Masters swimming a growing sport

Press, 24 April 1984, Page 4

Masters swimming a growing sport

The number of registered masters swimmers in New Zealand has doubled each year for the last few years, according to Professor D. C. Stevenson, the chairman of the organising committee for the international masters swimming championships. Professor Stevenson made the opening remarks at the New Zealand Federation of Sports Medicine’s international scientific conference at the Christchurch Town Hall yesterday. The conference is being held in conjunction with the international masters swimming championships, at Queen Elizabeth II Park pool from today until Saturday. The theme of the conference is “masters swimming; competition, exercise, and fun.” Professor Stevenson outlined its growth since the first championships in Texas in 1970 when 70 swimmers competed. “The growth in the United States is now legendary,” he said.

In 1974, a pioneer group from the United States visited Australia and New Zealand and that tour started the sport in New Zealand. International activity increased from that year. Professor Stevenson said that 50 New Zealand masters swimmers competed last year in the Pan Pacific championships and the Australian championships.

There were now 1350 swimmers registered in that category in New Zealand. “Masters swimming opens avenues for people to meet, take part and share in common interests. Much good will comes from meeting, mixing, talking and swimming together,” Professor Stevenson said. Sir Ronald Scott, a director of the New Zealand Sports Foundation and the chairman of its grants committee, addressed the audit ence on the subject: “If I want to I will (and to hell

with your theories).” He outlined six instances where sportsmen had defied scientific and medical opinion to achieve outstanding performances. The conference will end this evening when Dr David Costill, the director of the human performance laboratory at Ball State University in the United States, will give the 1984 Dr Tom Anderson Memorial lecture. His subject for the open lecture is: “Key factors for optimum performance.”