WORLD SWIMMING

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 74, 28 March 1936, Page 9

WORLD SWIMMING

TITLE FOR SUPREMACY ‘ OLYMPIC GAMES PROSPECTS. AMERICA AND JAPAN. Present indications are that tho contest for world, swimming supremacy will be between tho United States ana Japan at tho Olympic Games, to bo held in Berlin next August. At the last Olympic Games, Japan won 87 points to America’s 71, but America has been making special efforts to bring out new stars this year, and the issue appears ve r y open. No European nation at present appears to threaten cither Japan or America, but tuere are ample indications that hero and theie a champion will bo produced to rank among the Olympic champions of 193 Q. In order to make possible the running of both, swimming and diving events simultaneously, if tho nceu should arise, the pool at Berlin is divided into a diving pool, 20 by 20 metres, and a swimming pool. 20 by 50 metres, as required by the international standard. The stands, on beta sides, hold 10,000 spectators. During the Games a temporary stand will be erected at tho end facing the diving board, so that, in all, tho swimming stadium will provide accommodation for 12,000 spectators. American’s Impressions. Peter Fielc, of the New York Athletic Club, world’s record holder lor tho 100-metre free-style swim, who recently toured Europe for a senes of swimming matches, had this to say regarding his impressions while over there.— “Everybody in Germany is set on tho Olympics. ' In all cities where 1 went, even the people in the semed to bo talking about them. They are talking this business of preparing for tho big sports event very seriously. ‘ ‘ They have a man over there by trie name of Fischer who boat mo in our first match, and, even if I got the better of him in a subsequent encounter, 1 cannot take tho credit away from him that he is a very dangerous rival and a hard man to boat in the Olympics. He and the Hungarian Czik are the best European free-style swimmers just now.” German Promise.

Germany seems to be leading ia Europe at present in . swimming aud diving competitions. Last summer, when the European swimming championships were held in the Saxon town of Magdclburg, Germany won by a considerable margin. This year tho Olympic training races at Dusseldorf . saw the establishment of a new world's record in the 200-metre breaststroke by Erwin Sietas, who did-two minutes hi 42.4 seconds; the creation of a new European record in tho same event for wornea by Martha Genenger, who did three minutes 00.8 seconds, aud a new German record in the 100-metro freestyle by Helmut Fischer, of Bremen, who did 58.2 seconds. Other performances of similar magnificence have kept the experts on the watch for furtner developments in Germany. Concentration on Coaching. At the hast Olympics at Los Angeles, Leo Escr, of Germany, was placed fifth in the springboard diving, establisliing himself as the best European representative, and Olga Jordan, of Geimany, placed fourth in the same event for women, giving her the best European rating. Good as their showing was, Germany was not satisfied with it, _ having won quite a number of swimming and diving titles at pre-war Olympics. This year a coach was engaged for the German swimming team,. who should bring back some of their lost laurels. He is Harold (“Dutch”) Smith, the bay from California, ninner-up for tho Olympic diving board title at t c Games in Los Angeles. Smith is travelling all over Germany in order to advise and improve his pupils, who are only too eager aud willing to be worthy representatives of their country when the Olympic bell rings 'in .the Berlin Games.