By Request...No Flowers

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30535, 2 September 1964, Page 14

By Request...No Flowers

rpHE announcement in the x American papers that Australia had turned down the selection of Murray Rose in the Olympic swimming team came with amazement and was met with incredibility. Unlike the Australian tennis players, who have since been called to their country’s assistance, Rose did not break any law or defy the Australian Swimming Union. When the Australian swimming championships (the Olympic trials) were held early in the year, Rose had. been retired from the sport for some months to follow his career of a movie actor. On the completion of his last film, having time on his hands and being fanatical about physical fitness, he returned to his former coach, Peter Daland. At that time no thought was given to the Olympic Games selection. Rose, within a few weeks, surprised all with the manner in which he swam. Requesting a special time trial over 400 metres, he recorded the remarkable time of 4min 17sec, the world's second fastest time for the year. This spurred him and his coach on and an entry

was sent forward for the American nationals. It was at this point that Rose may have made a fateful mistake. He should, at

this juncture, have written to the secretary of the Amateur Swimming Union of Australia (Mr W. Burge Phillips) informing him that

he was making a come-back, and that his early form indicated that a world record was not beyond his grasp and asking for consideration for the Olympic Games team. Unfortunately, Rose did not do this and allowed rumour and newspaper results to reach Phillips and influence the Australia® selectors in reaching a decision on the matter. The blonde swimmer went on to break the world’s 1500 metres freestyle record at the American nationals. This performance made many people think that, having established himself as the fastest swimmer in the world over this distance, he would automatically gain a place in the team for Japan. The incident has had remarkable coverage in American papers and it would appear that Australia has lost face over the issue. A New York columnist has stated in bold type that “the barring of Rose was foolish.” He said, “the Australian Swimming Union

consists of, in the main, stiffnecked blokes of uncompromising rigidity,” and added, “their action is the epitome of foolishness.” Rose is a popular swimmer in this country and is claimed by many as being the greatest swimmer produced. Gus Stager, head coach to the American team at the last Games at Rome, says: “I have to believe that Rose is the greatest swimmer of all times—greater even than Johnny Weissmuller.”

Swimming circles here feel that personalities may have crept into the question. If such is the case, then it is not doing either Australia or the sport any good. This hand-out to Rose by the Swimming Union is certainly not a bouquet in return for valuable services rendered, but could instead be a killing blow that could turn the world’s fastest 1500 metres swimmer from the sport.