SWIMMING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 18 September 1926, Page 12

SWIMMING.

WOMEN AS SAVIMMERS,

ENGLISH CHANNEL FEAT

WHY THEY BEAT THE MEN.

Asked to explain why women Channel swimmers had, up till to-day, beaten the men, Mrs Clemington Corson, 'who provided the week-end sensation with her feat, replied: “We trained' hard. Most of the men merely played. 7 7 Her husband supplemented the statement by saying that women had more powers of determination and endurance, and kept going although dead-beat, whfereas the men said to themselves that they felt they could not win this time, but “would try next week. 77 The newspapers are searching for the reason why the majority of women surfbathers are able to stay in the water far longer than men. “Because women have more staying power and vitality, 77 is how the osteopath, Sir Herbert Barker, explains Miss Ederle’s and Airs Corson’s feats.

“Everyone knows that among mixed bathers men quit the water first, 77 he said. “ There is some truth in the ‘ extra fat 7 theory, but the real explanation is that women have superior inherent powers of resistance. Modern women arc overhauling men athletically because they dress sensibly, and the sooner men follow suit the better for themselves and posterity.