Unexpected Improvement By Germans In Olympics

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29330, 8 October 1960, Page 16

Unexpected Improvement By Germans In Olympics

(From Our Own Reporter) (By Air Mail] LONDON, October 3. With a total of 87 nations competing in the recent Olympic Games in Rome, it was only to be expected that there should be a fairly wide distribution of medals. Although Russia and the United States, as expected, gained the major shares, some other nations showed unexpected improvement in individual sports. The good showing of the Germans in athletics was an example. A. Hary’s success in the 100 metres, and the win of the sprint relay team are well-known, but Germany, a combined team chosen after trials for athletes from both West Germany and East Germany, also provided many other finalists in men’s track events.

In the 400-metres Germany had C. Kaufmann, who finished second, recording the same time as the winner, as well as another finalist in M. Kinder. In the 800metres P. Schmidt and M. Matuschewski finished fourth and sixth for Germany. H. Grodotzki was second in both the 5000-metres and 10,000-metres, with F. Janke fourth in the former. Germany also provided the fourth to finish in both the hurdle events, in M. Lauer and H. Jantz. As the United States filled the first three placings in each of these, the two Germans were, on the day, the best from anywhere else in the world. A second in the 4 by 400-metres relay completed a successful track Games for Germany. Germans also filled sixth place in the steeplechase, and fourth and fifth in the two walks. The comparative decline of the United States was another feature. Although Americans filled all three placings in four events and four others in the men’s section) it is fair to say that even better performances were expected. Women’s Events Miss W. Rudolph won three events for the United States in women’s athletics, but the other six events went five to Russia and one to Rumania. In addition, Russia also gained one second, one third, four fourths, four fifths and one sixth placing in these events. There was no doubt as to the superiority enjoyed by the host nation, Italy, in the cycling events. A win by Russia in the individual road race prevented Italy from making a clean sweep, but all Ute same five wins, and a second in the sixth race, was a fine record. S. Giardoni, with wins in the individual sprint and the individual time trial, was the outstanding cyclist His win in the latter event was decisive, with a margin of I.4Bsec over the second cyclist Pakistan upset India in the final of the hockey, but the title remained in the Comonwealth. In fact, five of the first six countries were the five Commonwealth entries in this oompetition. Spain, a newcomer to Olympic competition, provided a complete surprise in winning the bronze medals. Jugoslavia, runner-up in two previous Olympic soccer finals, won through to the gold medals, this time by beating Denmark in the final. The title-holder. Russia, surprisingly failed to survive the elimination rounds, and so the team did not even make an appearance in Rome.

Rowing Superiority

There was no doubt as to Germany’s superiority in the rowing. winning three events and also scoring one second. Much of this success was attributed to the revolutionary spoon-shaped oars used by the Germans, but there is little doubt that they also were better in physical condition and all-round ability at Rome. The eight-oared event, which had been won for many yjears by the United States, was one of Germany’s victories. The United States Navy crew could finish only fifth. As one American journalist put it "The Naivy was sunk without trace at Lake. Albano in the rowing finals.” Medals in the men’s canoeing events were evenly spread, with Denmark, Sweden, Hungary, Russia and Germany -each scoring one victory. Russia won the two women’s events, however. Hungary had the best all-round record in this sport with a medal in all but one of the seven events. Hungary swept the pocfl in the modern pentathlon, taking the first two placings in the individual event with F. Nemeth and I. Nagy, anji these two with the fourth man, A. Balczo. also taking the team title. The, American, R. Beck, who led in the individual event with four pt the

five parts completed, slipped back to third in the final analysis. Yachting Advance Russia made a notable advance in yachting to take one first and one second. Denmark, with one first, two seconds and one sixth, was the top-scoring nation on the Bay of Naples. Others to win a gold medal were Norway, Greece and the United States. As expected, the United States took three gold medals in the boxing, but this feat was equalled by Italy. In fact, Italy also took three silver medals and one bronze to finish as the top nation in this sport. The Italian crowds, who know their boxing, showed mighty enthusiasm at these achievements. The other three gold medals went to Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia, with Russia completely shut out. Turkey dominated the wrestling, with seven wins in the 16 sections. In the Greco-Roman, a form not used in New Zealand which bars the use of the legs, Turkey took three weights, Russia three and Rumania and Bulgaria one each. It was Turkey again in the lead in the freestyle section with four wins, with the United States providing the surprises in three weights. Germany took the heavy-weight section. The United States was never in trouble to retain the basketball title, with the second team. Russia, further behind than in Melbourne in 1956. Hungary, defending the water polo title, could do no better than finish third this year behind Italy aru|» Russia. Upsets In Swimming Predictions went astray in several directions in the swimming events. Australia won five titles, but was expected to do better. The German, Miss I. Kramer, surprised by winning both the women’s diving events. Apart from one title to Great Britain, the United States, with 11 wins, was the only other nation to score.

In the individual pool events, the United States won five titles, the same as Australia. Great strength in depth saw the Americans take the four relay events, as well as the two men’s dives. Japan was less successful than expected, with only three seconds and a third in the men’s events.

Russia and Japan dominated the men’s gymnastics, and Russia the women’s. Russia won 10 gold medals in all in gymnastics Japan four, Finland one and Czechoslovakia one. Russia also took eight seconds and eight thirds in the 14 separate events.

Again it was Russia to the fore in fencing, another example of an unexpected advance. True. Russia had done well in some world championship fixtures in recent years, but to win the team and individual men’s foil and the team women’s foil was more than was expected. Italv and Hungary took two titles and Germany one.

There was , no doubt about Russia’s superiority in weightlifting. and no Russian was beaten by a national of any other country. The two titles which fell to non-Russians, one to the United States and one to Poland, were in weights where the Russian entries had to withdraw because of injuries. With two firsts, two seconds and three thirds, Russia could, with some justice, also claim to be the top nation in shooting. Other gold medals went to Australia. Germany, Rumania and the United States. Italy. Australia and Russia shared the equestrian wins. Russia Outstanding The success of Russia in these Games was of course outstanding, but what may strike the reader with even more force is the success of the Russian women in particular. In women’s athletics Russia won six gold medals, one silver medal

and one bronze medal in 10 events. In canoeing the Russians won both the women’s events. One first and one second in the two women’s fencing events, and the already-mentioned outstanding success in women’s gymnastics, gave Russia wins in 14 of the 20 events in these four sports —an outstanding achievement. What then is the reason for the lack of success by Russia in the other women’s event on the programme, swimming? In women’s swimming Russia gained only one bronze medal, and that for diving, in a total of nine events. In fact, the only other Russian to • get into the first six were fifths in both diving events, and a sixth in the butterfly event. The reason for this comparative lack of -success lies in the lack of progress in Russian swimming as a whole. When the Russians have further absorbed their lessons in technique and training, they will probably go as far ahead of other nations as they have in other sports. Swimming, like other sports, demands good facilities and the will to undergo long hours of training. As the Russians lack nothing in comparison with other nations in facilities, and have the will and encouragement to stick to their training, their future in world swimming should be bright.