SWIMMER TALKS TO "TRUTH"!

NZ Truth, Issue 1306, 22 December 1930, Page 12

SWIMMER TALKS TO "TRUTH"!

Mercedes Gleitze, Conqueror of English Channel, To Try Treacherous Cook Strait Swim TO ATTEMPT AN RECORD (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Wellington Representative.) Conqueror of the English Channel and the Straits of Gibraltar, Miss Mercedes Gleitze, the noted English swimmer, has arrived m New Zealand with the avowed object of swimming Cook Strait, that treacherous stretch of water that separates the North and South Islands. In a special interview with "N.Z. Truth," Miss Gleitze told something of her hopes and aspirations in" this direction, and also something of the secret of her remarkable success m s*w*imming. If she manages to conquer the Straits — and no one realizes more fully than she does the difficulty of the task — then she will have reached a "fitting climax to her remarkable career.

AS an endurance swimmer, Miss Gleitze also has reached a very high pinnacle, but she also has aspirations on the world's record, she told ''Truth." The record at present is held by America, and stands at -something like 50 hours. During the present year, however, Miss Gleitze has advanced her own record from 2G hours m January to 42 hours, an endurance swim she achieved at Dublin just prior to her sailing for Wellington. Miss Gleitze told "Truth" that she did not anticipate attempting the Cook Strait swim until near the end of February next oi* the beginning of March, but m the meantime she is going to try an endurance swim m Wellington baths. She hoped to add another hour or two on to her own record, but primarily she will undertake the swim to keep her m good trim for the big endeavor across the notoriously icey stretches of the Strait. "This year I swam the old year out and the new year m," she told -this paper's rep. "That was m Edinburgh, when I started my swim on New Year's Eve. I have kept up my form by an endurance swim every month since, and I would desire nothing better than to get a little nearer to the world's record m Wellington on this coming New Year's Eve." . "Do you suffer any injurious physical after-effects from the endurance swims?" "Truth" asked Miss Gleitze. "No," she remarked. "The only effect is _a slightly reduced blood pressure, due to- the sapping of my strength, but my pulse ,is normal. "For each swim I have a different doctor, and each one is amazed at my condition. They cannot understand it." "What is the secret of long distance swimming?" was the next inquiry from "Truth." "It depends only on three things," was the reply. "Perfect physical condition, strong will power — the wtfll power to • keep going against all odds — and the ability to swim well." Miss Gleitze said she kept her perfect physical fitness by club swinging and drill. This she indulged m regularly, but her physical condition was such that she could stand the strain of long immersion m the water. "A long distance swimmer has to be born, not made," she said, "but training keeps one m the best of condition." One can readily believe that determination has been a big factor m this remarkable lady swimmer's success. It is written large on her countenance. Speed m swimming does not enter into the . matter at all, she affirmed, but stamina. On her big long distance swims, and they present a formidable list of which- anyone would be proud, Miss Gleitze adopts the breast stroke entirely. "I get too cold if I turn on

my back or side, and Invariably stick to the one stroke," she said. Miss Gleitze is of medium height, but stockily built, and is the ideal type of swimmer. In her Cook Strait swim she realises the hazards of the journey, but will leave no stone unturned to make her trip here a successful one. ■ • At this season of the year, conditions are all against the trip. Not only are

weather conditions unsettled, but ' the* temperature too low to permit anyone to stay m the water any length of time. Moreover, there are tides and currents to study, and the latter phase of the waters m the Strait is one which .Miss Gleitze is giving particular attention to. Miss Gleitze has nothing to guide her m her task, as previous attempts have prove unsuccessful, and she, -told "Truth" she intends to follow her own plans, to be formulated when she has become thoroughly acquainted with* all phases of the undertaking. ' - Local conditions, both this and the other side of the Straits, Miss Gleitze intends to inquire into, and with this object m view her first task is to get m touch with local skippers and fishermen. - . In contrast m styles between an en-

durance swim and a long distance swim. Miss Gleitze told "Truth" that while on the latter she uses one stroke practically all the way, for an endurance test r s " e employs no fewer than six different l stroKfis. The breast stroke Is the least' tiring of all, while at the same time the 1 swimmer employing It makes good i progress* Experience has taught Miss * Gleitze that this Is the best stroke * to adopt. «"Jt Possible, I intend to see something of New -Zealand before Igo back Home" - she said. "My husband and I will leave any tripping round until after my attempt to swim the Strait." Miss Gleitze is confident she will be \ able to accomplish her task, and "Truth" believes that if anyone can do it, she is best fitted for the task. AH New Zealand will watch her attempt with the keenest interest, and should she be successful, will give her the rousing reception she deserves.