A CHAMPION

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 18, 21 January 1921, Page 8

A CHAMPION

MISS BLEIBTREY'S ,SW!iMMING;

"Three years ago I didnjt 'know how to swim." That singular confession was made to a. representative 'of' the Christchurch Sun by Miss TEijlielda Bleibtrey, champion lady swimmer 'of the world, . , . "I have been swimming in competitions less than a year," Miss. Bleibtrey continued, "but a short time ago I defeated Miss Fanny Durack, the Australian, who was lady champion of the world. The six beat crawl, the double trudg&on, and tho American crawl are my favourite strokos, but I don't use any particular stroke when training. I usually do 500 yards, and then do a sprint swim, so that my tsapacity will not be confined nolely to long-distance swimming. Long "distance is tho best training for sprints, I find, provided it is undertaken that way! My coach is L. De B. Handley, who trained the last three lady champions of the United States— Claire (ialhgaii, Charlotte Boyle, and myself. . "I have no special diet, I eat what I want to, and -like" everything but visiting dentists!" she added laughingly (she had just visited one) : . • ' Asked what other forms of 6port she enjoyed, Miss Bleibtrey said that horseriding and tennis found her an enthusiastic devotee. She has found much pleasure in both sports in New Zealand, and did not forget to add, in her characteristically candid manner, that lihe was having a "wonderful time in this fine country." "You know there are some very fino swimmers here, but they are handicapped by want of proper coaching,'' tho visitor continued. "A proper coach is a news Rity. The water in New Zealand is softer, more buoyant, and faster than it is in the States. •. Here It is more like the water at Honolulu. The baths .hers 'are much longer than those of my country, where 25yds is the almost invariable length." Garbed in a tartan, skirt, ors.nge-coloured jersey, and a green wrap around capable looking shoulders, this medium-sized girl of 18 didnot look her very important part in the swimming world. It was only when Miss Bleibtrey appeared for a trial swim at the Tepid. Baths that one was impressed by the sense'that here was the physique that wins world's recovds.