OLYMPIC GAMES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 28 January 1928, Page 11

OLYMPIC GAMES.

PREPARATION METHODS.

The Olympic Games, which are to be held in Amsterdam tiiis summer, give the subject or athlete method an increasing interest. These international competitions, at which the world’s flower of youth competes, serves as a. test of tne many theories of athletic style in track and field events. Some 01 these methods, such as the crouch start as opposed to the old stand-up style, seemed to be more iixed than others —to be, in fact, almost standardised in their broad lines, but, like che introduction of tiie extra spin in the hammer throw, it may be that a new form wilt yet be developed to shrink record figures still further. In order that tins country may be justifiably enthusiastic over the coining .esti\;al, its representatives must have oeen trying out the methods tested at past Olympics. For the various track and field events a certain groundwork of training lias been laid down in the past and it is imperative that our utnietes should have explained to them )ust what is considered by experts to oe the best form for the attainment ol success in tiie many events, and just now these conclusions have been arrived at. WHAT FORM MEANS.

Form merely means that style through which is attained tne maximum ol energy. it implies the coordination ol all action to the desirecl jud, and the elimination or all unnecessary movement in the particular event, m certain lieid games, in which weight was supposed to be the deciding factor, it has been possible, by the development ol a new or mourned form, to substitute speed and produce a new record. This discovery may lead to the registering of new iigures in other events.

Although the methods used by the various world cracks lorm tne gtoundwork lor tiie training schedule oi aspirants l’or honours, tins does not mean that the style of any one champion can be so sterotyped as to be Dlindly followed by ail athletes. The analysis or style to be helpful should not be .so much that of any individual performer as tne composite essence extracted from the methods of many world champions, past and present. Though athletes cannot be turned out by massed production schemes (and there will always be truitlul differences ol opinion concerning details oi style and even of more fundamental factors.), as long as the athlete can distinguish between the essential actions or his model and the more peculiarities or mannerisms not helping in tiie event, he will find a certain amount of imitation helpful. He should beware ol bund imitation, for the finished athlete has a style which is peculiarly his own.

Nevertbeless, there are. certain accepted principles concerning general fitness and fitness lor particular events which apply to all athletes without exception. in the matter of general fitness it is not so much mere muscular developments as a balanced development of heart, lungs, muscles, and j nerves which is necessary. Jn ordered | training, explanation should be given of j .breathlessness or lung fatigue, stateness or nerve fatigue, as well as the. latigucl of the muscles generally. Training j seeks to delay this condition, and ishelped considerably by sports massage. Another important matter is that of the selection of the raw material, or the fitting of the athlete to the event. RIGHT AND WRONG PRINCIPLES. In the application of general principles to a specific event, it is not difficult to prove that for sprinting, to take an instance, there is a right and a wrong way ol holding she trunk irrespective of individual peculiarities. In long-distance running, there is tiie factor of rythmic action so essential to substantial success, and other applicable principles for the remaining events.

Although athletic success is a, combination qf native ability and systematic training, more success is to be ascribed, to., training than many outsulers imagine. T!he champion’s effortless, smooth, and graceful action which appears so. .spontaneous is often the result of many seasons of practice. As m every branch ojf human endeavour, genius is often the capacity for taking infinite pains, and the secret of such consummate skill is the result of unflagging work in all kinds, of weather. Training in unmethodical tashon can be a very dull affair indeed, but, by interesting the athlete in the many details of hi.s schedule, the path to success is made smoother. If, instead of having to guess what to do. next or having no reason for doing the various parts of his training, he has some sure groundwork and can see his training being fruitful from day to day, the task will be easier of accomplishment. Many a competent novice lias had his healthy enthusiasm damped because lack of knowledge has made his training iso dull and heavy. What iis wanted in Australia, is organised training by competent coaches who know the methods of training successful both here and abroad, so that individual methods can he developed. There is no reason why the athletes here, if thus organised, should not add to the body of knowledge that accumulates from year to vear in the development of the technique of the track and field events. What the Finns, have done in long-distance running the Germans in middle-distance running, the Americans in the field games, lias been paralleled to some extent by Australians of the. pa.st in sprinting, but much more will have to be done along these lines before we can hope to compete successfully at future Olympic games.