SWIMMING

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 5 March 1927, Page 12

SWIMMING

BROKE FIFTY SECONDS. WEISSMULLER’S 100 YARDS. New York, January 7.—Johnny Weissmuller was credited, on July 7, with swimming the fastest 100 yards in history. The new mark of 49,8 seconds bettered Meissimuller’s own. accepted world’s .record one-fifth seconds. It has been considered “impossible” by swimming experts for human beings to “break” fifty seconds for the 100yard dash. According to an Illinois A.G. official’s report, Weissmuller was timed by six watches, two of which, snapped him in 49.6. The other four caught him in 49.8.

Since the performance was made in a 20-yard l pool, it cannot be officially recognised’ as a. world’s .record by the International Amateur Federation, but it will, be recorded as an American “20-yard course” record, and .recognised iais the fastest for the distance. Weissmuller’,s fastest previous mark for ■this size pool was 51.4 seconds, made in 1924. at Omaha. His accepted world’s record of 52 seconds flat was made a.t San Francisco, August 40, 1925. The swimmers of the world—where there are no .sharks—are bent on creating fresh records these days. Norman Ross is the latest to endeavour to break the times for the swim across the Golden Gate and back again. He found the water very cold., and swam well, but was beaten by the clock. Below is the story as told by the San Francisco 1 ‘ Chronicle. ’ ’

Walter Pomeroy’s record for swimming the Golden Gate is safe for at least another «*ix or eight months. Damo Nature failed to ’smile for Norman Ross on December 17, when lie attempted to lower the standard for crossing the Golden Gate. In fact, it might be said that Dame Nature laughed—a. sneering laugh—and then conspired

to defeat the purposes, of the “Big Moose.”

Every trick that the waters of the famous Golden Gate are noted for was put into force, and Ross failed by nearly nine minutes to equal Pomeroy’s time for one way and then forty-eight minutes behind his round-trip record. The Moose’s performance, however, will go on record as being one of the greatest feats of endurance for open water swimming.

From the moment that Ross hurled 249 pounds of bone, muscle, and sinew into, the swirling waters at the foot of Fort Point, the quirks of Fate were working to defeat his purpose. No sooner had Ross entered the water than it was seen that he had ‘started from the wrong point. This, however, could not be remedied now.

All the way over the “Big Moose” from the Casa. Del. Mar Cllub of Chicago was forced to fight the fast-flowing flood tide. In spite of his efforts to keep .abreast of Lime Point, the tide carried him off his course, and when within a quarter of <a mile of the points, it was seen that even though Ross had six minutes left, that he would never be able to buck the currents to get a new record. The fact that, it required fifteen minutes to cover the last 400 yards, is evidence of what lie was up against. ENGLAND'S WONDER GIRL. The speediest woman distance swimmer the world has known, Miss Edith Mayne, is only 21 years of age. She is a clerk, and learnt to swim at 11 years of age, ancl is an exponent of the sixbeat crawl. Miss Mayne Is a member of Torquay Leander Swimming Club, and a few .months ago broke the 880 yards, 1000 yards, 1000 metres, 45,000 metres, and one mile in 13.1 1-5. 14.47, 15.47 2-5, 24.0 1-5, and 25.46 respectively. This brilliant swimmer is reported to., be anxious to visit Australia. Miss Mayne’s times for the lesser distances are ■ 100 yards, 58sec; 220 yards, 2.57; 440 yards, 5.58. WOMEN’S WORLD RECORDS. Two world swimming records for women ancl two national marks wer eclipsed at Miami (Florida), on Janu

ary 23 by Marth a No toll u,m, when she swam 440 yards in 5.51 3-5. The previous records were held by Gertrude Ederle.

The .time broke the official world marks of Miss Ederle at 440 yards and 400 metres -which stood at 5.53 3-5, and 5.54 3-5, respectively. Two official American marks were also created, as Miss Ederle had held the 440 yards American record of 6.10 and the national 400 metre timing of 5.54 2-5. Agnes Ger.aghty, free style champion, failed by 2 1-5 to equal her own American breast stroke record of 3.29 1-5 for 220 yards.