SWIMMING STANDARDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21115, 24 February 1932, Page 15

SWIMMING STANDARDS.

GREAT IMPROVEMENT SHOWN.

When Andrew Charlton was swimming in the 440 yd?!'. race in the Domain Baths, Sydney, last month, probably few of (ho spectators realised that he was travelling at a speed that a quarter of a century sgo was thought to be almost impossible. Charlton placed the distance behind in 4m 55 2-ss, smashing his own Australian record by four and two-fifth seconds, and getting to within three and two-fifth seconds of the world's record.

Nearly 27 years ago. B. B. Kciran covered 440 yds.' at 'be Lavender Bay Baths on April 1. 1905. in the then un-heard-of time of 5m 19s. J'ive yearn later another famous Australian swimmer. Frank Beaurepairc. was credited with a swiln of sui 23s at Budapest.

/ Then an American school of swimmeis came into prominence. Ludy Lander, assisted by tidal waters at Honolulu, sped over the quarter mile in 5m 17s, The piant Norman Ross was clocked at 5m 16 2-5s at Detroit. Later, in a bath with 21 turns, be covered flip. 440 yds. ill JUI 5. 3-ss. ' The Swede.-Arne Borg, surprised England with a 5m IBs effort. Then came Charlton. His was a dramatic performance. In his first important race lie 'defeated Borg in the wonderful time of Sin lis. That, was nearly seven years ago. He later reduced this to 4m 595. Johnny Weismuller, in 1927, made a world's record of 4m 525, and these figures still stand. From Keiran to Charlton Australian swimming standards have improved out of all recognition. But- so have the standards of other nations.