SWIMMING McFADDEN RETIRES FROM COMPETITION

Press, Volume C, Issue 29638, 7 October 1961, Page 5

SWIMMING McFADDEN RETIRES FROM COMPETITION

C. McFadden, the finest distance freestyle swimmer produced in New Zealand, has announced his retirement from competitive swimming. McFadden, aged 20, said yesterday that he had thoroughly enjoyed his swimming days, but he would now like to contribute somethin? to the sport in the way of coaching, especially for his club. Spreydon, and the Canterbury Swimming Centre. McFadden was only four when he learned to swim at the Tepid Baths. At six he could swim competently, both backstroke and freestyle. He became a regular competitor in interclub carnivals and later swam with distinction in Canterbury and nations 1 meetings.

His early competitive swimming was in backstroke, but after the junior chain pionships at Nelson in 1955 ho decided to swim freestyle. In 1957 McFadden decided to train for long as well as middle distances, and at the Canterbury championships in that year, after swimming stroke for stroke with P. Garratt in the 1650 yards, he was just beaten by a touch.

After some successes at Auckland and Dunedin hi won the 440 yards and 1659 yards events at the New Zealand championships at Christchurch, in 1958 against such formidable swimmers as J. Flynn, J. McGuiness, W. Smith. F. Lucas, and A. Cot terill. McFadden was then still an intermediate. Record Stands

McFadden consistently returned brilliant times and his' record of 18min 53.25ec for th o 1650 yards freestyle still stands. His performances in this period won him a place in the' New Zealand team which took part in the Empire Games, at Cardiff, but because of ill health he was not able to compete. At the 1959 New Zealand championships at Napier McFadden, who- had done comparatively little training, won three titles, the 440 yards freestyle, the 1650 yards freestyle and the long distance championship race held in the Napier Harbour. McFadden was given an Overwhelming reception at Napier by the spectators who appreciated the difficulties and pluck needed to win these three titles. McFadden feels that his success was attributable in no small way to his father, Mr

H. McFadden, and elde. - brother, G. McFadden, a former New Zealand 449 yards backstroke swimmer. Coach’s Praise

Coaches who played a prominent part in McFadden’s success were Messrs N. Robertson, H. Davy, t. Breward, and P. I. Krause. Mr Krause, a prominen-; Auckland instructor, considers McFadden the best

pupil he has had since he commenced coaching. “It is only a few times in a lifetime that a coach has the luck to strike a really great swimmer and I feel that in McFadden I was more than Iticky,” he said.

In the Christmas holidays McFadden will spend some time in Auckland assisting Mr Krause with his training and coaching. Asked what he had got out of swimming McFadden said yesterday: “Pleasure and a host of friends.” McFadden feels that middle and long distance times especially can be broken by seconds with the aid of a good coach and the right approach by the swimmer. .