OLYMPIC ATHLETES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21314, 15 October 1932, Page 17

OLYMPIC ATHLETES

OBSERVATIONS OF STARTER IMPRESSED WITH R. METCALFE From Mr. T. W. Leslie, New Zealand's Starter at the recent Olympic Games, tome further interesting items concerning athle't-es and their doings at Los Angeles. The only man who tried to beat the gun and made necessary a recall shot in the events started by Mr. Leslie was £>r. Peltzer. It will be remembered that the German also tried to beat the gun at the start *of his race with G. Golding, the Australian, in Wellington, a few years ago, but on that occasion, too, he Vas caught and recalled. The beginning r>f the final of the 1500 metres, started by Mueller, the German, saw the field .Very unsteady and it broke three times. Paavo Nurmi was a most interesting figure. Ho was quiet and unassuming, had his own manager and kept himself fcell informed of what other athletes were doing. Sylvio Optor, of Haiti, ex-holder of the World's long jump record, was another interesting personality. Of a fine disposition, he was broken-hearted when his three jumps were disallowed, as he felt he had let his country down. The Japanese athletes were very popular and the pole-vaulter, Nishioa, came Sn for a particularly fine hearing. Although Eddie Tolan won both the Sprints at the Olympic Games, Mr. Leslie considers the - outstanding sprinter was Ilalph Metcalfe. He has never seen a finer-built athlete than Metcalfe, whose one fault is that he is just a little slow off the mark. W. Carr and B. Eastman, the two greatest quarter-milers the world has seen, are as unlike each other as could be possible. Carij is short and dark and something like C. Olsen, a former New Zealand half-mile champion, while Eastman is fair, tall and rangy, but looks ill at all times. Eastman runs only one way. He goes off at the gun with a long, racy etride arid makes a terrific pace all the way. Csrr takes short, quick strides and, steadier in the early stages, he produces a remarkable finishing burst. Stella Walsh stood out supreme among tte ladv sprinters and was regarded as & phenomenon. An American sports Writer stated that she runs better than a fcan as she has relaxation.