SWIMMER RESIGNS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22412, 7 May 1936, Page 12

SWIMMER RESIGNS

AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC TEAM MISS CLAIRE DENNIS SYDNEY, May 6 Miss Claire Dennis, Australia's foremost breaststroke swimmer, has withdrawn from the Olympic team owing to a, recurrence of the foot trouble which affected her on her previous trip. Miss Claire Dennis, one of the nine athletes added to the Australian Olympic team a fortnight ago as a result of public agitation, was a world's champion when she was 16 years of age, winning the 200 metres ladies' breaststroke title at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1932. Her time, 3m 6 3-10s, was then a world's record, but i'i has since been broken by the Japanese champion, Miss M. Maehata. A further notable success gained by Miss Dennis was her victory in tho 200vds ladies' breaststroke event at the British Empire Games in London two years ago. She visited Auckland i:i December, 1933. For about four years Miss Dennis' swimming has been retarded by the disease commonly known as "athlete's foot," which has been so serious as to make it necessary for her to undergo operations. Lately she showed signs of returning to form by establishing new Australian records for 150 yds and 200 yds.