GWITHA SHAND’S IMPRESSIONS HONOLULU SWIMMERS.

Evening Star, Issue 18141, 4 December 1922, Page 8

GWITHA SHAND’S IMPRESSIONS

HONOLULU SWIMMERS.

In the course of an interview last week, Miss Gwitha Shand, the young New Zealand swimming champion, who has just returned from Honolulu, said; —“I was greatly disappointed in the great Waikiki beach. Wo have many bettor beaches here, though the surf there is grand. Wo rode on the surf-boards successfully, thanks to the coaching of Sam Kahanamoku, Duke Kahanamoku’s brother. Honolulu is a lovely place, and we were splendidly treated daring our three weeks there.”

The stroke that most impressed Miss SJiand, who had tih© opportunity of watching the American men swimmers and the Honolulu ladies, was the Hawaiian crawl, such as is used by Marie Wehselau. “It is not a pretty stroke,” she commented, “ but it has the speed.” It is strikingly different from the stroke used here. In the Hawaiian crawl the leg bends slightly from the knee, not as much as the Australian crawl, but still distinctly. The leg stroke is more of a thrash than a kick. There is certainly less kick than in the Australian crawl.” Miss Sham! was greatly impressed by the work of Warren Keoloha, whom she regards as a wonderful swimmer.

Hearing Miss Shaud’s description, of her great race, one realises immediately that it is not likely to remain her best time for the distance. Tihe reason is simple. It was swum in a 25yds bath, a mere tank, and Miss Shand had to turn seventeen times. “Dad” Center, the famous American coach, assured her thpt she lost at least a second, compared with tankaccustomed swimmers, at every turn; while Miss Shand herself felt she lost a yard and a-half on each occasion in this way. “Dad ” Center said he was certain that had the course been one of 110 metres, with few turns, she would have done the 440yds in the six minutes dead, and had the course been a straightaway in smin SBscc. The Honolulu Press also comments on the time lost by onr visitors in not making the turns properly. The record credited to Mias Gertrude Ederle, America’s champion swimmer, is srnin 54 2-ssec for the distance in ,a straightaway bay course in favoring conditions, so that Miss Shand, at the age of eighteen, is rather near America’s best for their peace of mind. “What is my best distance? The middle distances, I think,” said Miss Shand. “Although 1 don’t know. I have tied with Miss Hoeft in the 220yds in 2min 53soc, and I beat her at Auckland in the 150yds in Imin 53 3-ssec, only a fifth of a second from the world’s records. I beat her, also, in the 100yds; but that was slow, 69sec.”

“ I don’t know whether I shall go to Sydney or not,” said Miss Shand. “It all depends on the chaperon. I want my mother lo chaperon both myself and Miss Hooft. She wants an Auckland chaperon. Unless my mother can go, I do not tliink I will go lo Sydney.” A Hawaiian lady swimmer who greatly impressed Miss Shand was Kuualoha, Keliipio, with whom, and Miss Hoeft, she helped lo extend Marie Wchselau, winner of the 220yds, Miss Shand sprinting in the last 15yds, and coming only 2ft behind the winner.