THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22831, 16 March 1936, Page 10

THE OLYMPIC GAMES

STRONG AUSTRALIAN TEAM PERFORMANCES OF MEMBERS SYDNEY, March 14. (Received March 14, at 5.5 p.m.) Australia’s Olympic team has been selected as follows: — Athletes. —Jack Metcalfe (New South Wales), G. Backhouse and A. Watson (Victoria). Cyclists.—Duncan Gray (New South Wales), T. Johnson and C. Wheeler (Victoria). Wrestlers.—R. Garrard (Victoria), E. Scarf (New South Wales). Boxer. —L. Cook (Queensland). Swimmers.—P. Oliver (Western Australia), Miss Pat Norton (New South Wales). Sculler. —C. Pearce (New South Wales). Mr H. Alderton (New South Wales) will be manager of the team. The team is as strong numerically as at the last Olympiad. A feature is the stronger section granted to cycling, boxing, and wrestling. The Australian Olympic Federation approved of the New South Wales Police crew being sent as Australia’s official representative In the eight-oared rowing subject to sufficient funds being raised from sources outside the normal revenue of the federation. The team will leave Melbourne on May 19, and six weeks’ training will be carried out at Berlin before the games. Metcalfe is the best athlete in the running broad jump, the high jump, and the hop, step, and jump that Australia has produced. Backhouse is at present the best middle-distance runner in the Commonwealth. Watson has probably the longest career of any Australian representative. Ho is 30 years of age. He competed at the Olympic Games at Amsterdam in 1928. Cook is the Australian welter-weight boxing champion. He won the Empire light-weight title in London in 1934. Gray has already represented Australia at two Olympiads as well as the British Empire Games. He is the only Australian cyclist to win an Olympic title. Wheeler is a good all-round rider and is the holder of the Australian Road Championship. Johnson won the One Mile Amateur Championship of Australia. Pearce is a cousin of Bob Pearce and is sculling champion of New South Wales. Oliver, who is only 16 years of age, is a fine sprinter, having broken the junior record for Australia for 100 yards. He is also backstroke champion of Australia. Miss Norton is the holder of the National Games 100 yards freestyle and backstroke titles. She will be 17 next week. Scarf will be making a second appearance at the Olympic Games. He reached third place in the final of the light heavy-weight division at Los Angelos. Garrard is the Australian and Victorian light-weight champion. The New South Wales Police eight won every senior event in New South Wales this season and won the Grand Challenge Eights at Hcnlcy-on-Yarra last September.