Record in heats

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33447, 31 January 1974, Page 8

Record in heats

A Canadian who took to swimming at the age of six to strengthen his legs after suffering from poliomyelitis yesterday broke the Games men’s 100 m butterfly record at the swimming pool. Byron Macdonald, who hails from the town of Mississauga, Ontario, clipped o.77sec from the mark he set in winning the title at the last Games in Edinburgh. He is now 23, and in recent years his studies at the University of Michigan have been first among his priorities. But in heading the butterfly qualifiers, he showed that there is life in the old dog yet. The world champion, Bruce Robertson, another Canadian, was narrowly beaten in his heat by a moustachioed Australian, Neil Rogers, who bears more than a passing resemblance to Mark Spitz.

Robertson, who lost to Spitz at Munich, was probably a little shaken by the presence of the Australian in an adjacent lane. Three Canadians, three Englishmen an< two Australians will fill -the lanes in the final. The New Zealand bronze, medal winner over 200 m, John Coutts, broke the national record, but failed to qualify—a fate which also befell the countr ’s second string, Michael Toomey. Christine Gaskell (England) started her quest for the 100 m breaststroke title by beating the defending champion, Beverley Whitfield (Australia), and breaking Miss Whitfield’s Games record in the process. The winner of the 200 m event, Patricia Beaven (Wales), did not look as convincing over the shorter distance, but qualified comfortably. Jane Lowe (New Zealand) swam second in her heat to the British recordholder, Christine Jarvis (England), and qualified in seventh place.