Anderson eyes $5000 grant

Press, 15 September 1988, Page 30

Anderson eyes $5000 grant

NZPA Seoul Auckland freestyler Ross Anderson wants $5OOO from the Sports Foundation if he goes under 51 seconds over 100 metres in the Olympic pool next week. Anderson believes the grant should have been his last December when he became the first New Zealand male to better 52 secs over 100 metres. New Zealand’s Olympic coach, Ross Anderson senior, said the Sports Foundation wrote to the Swimming Association following his son’s 51.58 s swim at Orlando, Florida on December 19. “They said a mistake had been made and the $5OOO grant had been tagged to a time of 51s for the 100 m. “I think he’d like the five grand next week,” Anderson senior said. The June-July 1987 edition of New Zealand Swimming World carried a story stating the payment related to a time of 525. The money was to further the swimming career of the person who bettered the time. Anderson junior is realistic enough to realise a dramatic improvement is required for him to be anywhere near the Olym-

pic medals in the event. The American swimming ace, Matt Biondi, fancies his chances as reigning world champion and is the one man to have bettered 495. The man who practises with dolphins, Biondi is competing in seven events in an endeavour to match Mark Spitz’ seven 1972 Munich golds. To achieve the feat he regards as impossible Biondi will also have to win the 100 m butterfly. Biondi expects the fastest swim meet in history at the Seoul pool. New Zealand’s best medal swim prospect, Anthony Mosse, is particpating in both the 100 and 200 m butterfly. Anderson senior said Mosse was regularly swimming 1 min 59s for the 200 m — West Germany’s Michael Gross holds the world record with 1:56.24. Mosse was rested from the squad’s three hour training session on Tuesday to allow him recovery time after his flight from the United States. One rival the United States based Mosse apparently will not have to worry about is Australian John Sieben who unexpectedly won the 200 m butterfly in Los Angeles.