GAME BATTLE

Evening Star, Issue 23146, 21 December 1938, Page 5

GAME BATTLE

OLYMPIC CHAMPION CRIPPLED FIGHTING WAY BACK TO SPORT The greatest woman diver in history is gamely fighting her way back into sports after an attack of paralysis had left her an apparently hopeless cripple, says an American writer. The name is Georgia Coleman, and it’s usually the only name heard when nominations are opened for all-time queen of the springboards. The records show that in addition to various other titles, Georgia won the high board, low board, and plain and fancy high diving championships in both the 1928 and 1932 Olympics. And while she recovers she is getting into business, manufacturing a new kind of fulcrum for springboards. Her illness has taken plenty of money for doctor and hospital bills. It was last Thanksgiving Day that Georgia was stricken with complete paralysis of her arms and legs while teaching swimming at a swanky Santa Barbara hotel. Taken to Los Angeles, where her mother lives, she was bedridden for months, and even her life was despaired of. Then, without physicians’ promptings, she undertook to walk. A few faltering steps resulted. She tried to swim and had to be rescued by Fred Cady, her coach. But she persevered. “ I can walk pretty well,” the 26-year-old diver said. “ I find turning around quickly or standing in one spot most difficult. “ The tips of my fingers and toes still feel numb. For instance, I can’t tell the difference between a quarter and a dime iust by feeling them. But I’ve come a long way since November, and I’m going to do better.” Miss Coleman now swims almost perfectly, and plays golf and badminton. The co-ordination required for championship diving naturally, is out of the question just now.