SWIMMING.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12804, 7 March 1936, Page 11

SWIMMING.

A NOTED SWIMMER ASSURED OF OLYMPIC TRIP. •FAST 100 YARDS BACKSTROKE WOMAN'S GREAT PERFORMANCE What may he regarded as probably the most •outstanding natatorial performance by a woman for tnanv years ' rrcliievG<l \vli on. Miss ■ Phyllis Harding, of' -England,- recently - swam 100 yards'hack-stroke in a 25yd. pool jh London, in the'’exceptionally fine time of da l. - ' r' , Slie -seMli-s assured of her fourth Olympic 'trip, states ; a writer in' the Spotting Globe. O'. i\ijs\s Harding, who- competes under her maiden name, has been Mts. -J; Turner fori-some’ time, and has had a remarkable swimming eai'cert Now 26, she cbmmencecl her competitive swimmiingl carcev at the ngfe of seven, anti noiv after 1 nineteen years of swimming,’ and having' married, ’her recent exploit, 1 which is ■ hut 3-ss. outside eOltnn’pic-' tucliampi-dn',. Eleanor Ilolm-Jaddott.’s world best time, put up when she could he expected to he

pubt her prime as a swimmer, stamps Muss Hardmg a t s ,a, dangerous competitor for Eleanor and Rio Mnstenbropk, of- Holland. Miss Jarrett has been credited with a 100 metres hack stroke time of 1 1.15 3-10 and Miss Ma'stenbrook with the official world’s record'of 1.16 8-5. It -sceml-i. certain that .Miss Harding wHI gain, a place in the English Olympic Games team, and if she do.' -, she will have established a. record Lir a woman swimmer. She 'England at the Paris Olympiad of 1821 when she swam second in the ]OG metres back’.vtroko to the famous Sybil Bauer, of U.S.A. In 1928 ~t Amsterdam illness robbed her of the hope of gaining a place in the final In 1932 at Los Angelos the English girl was narrowly beaten by Eleanor Halm-Jariett and Bonnie Mealing.

f'.'i Miss Harding is chosen to go to Berlin in August she will have appeared at four Olympiads, an honour few athletes, if any, have experienced lionnfe McaUjiig’s Australian record of 1.11 2-5, established in the 59 yards slow Coogce Aquarium bath at Sydney, must lie regarded as at least equal to the performance of Eleanor Holm Jarrett of 3.10 2-5, established in a 25 yard pool affording three tivrns to the one enjoyed by Bonnie.