EDITORIALS

Southland Times, Issue 22969, 15 August 1936, Page 21 (Supplement)

EDITORIALS

A LESSON FROM LOVELOCK. New Zealand boys and girls must have been thrilled to read of the wonderful race run by J. E. Lovelock when at the Olympic Games he won the 1500 metres in world’s record time. In probably the strongest field that has ever run in this event the New Zealander won with ease; and for the first time since the Olympic Games were revived the New Zealand flag flew at the masthead in recognition of first place being gained by a representative from the Dominion. The greatest runners in the world have paid tribute to Lovelock’s judgment, to his fitness and to his superb stride. Nurmi, the Finn who amazed the world with his distance running a few years ago, asserts that Lovelock is the greatest miler there has even been, and he prophesies that his time for the 1500 metres will not be beaten for many years—unless Lovelock himself ’’improves upon it. But it is not only because he is a world champion that New Zealanders should be proud of Lovelock. Not all champions are good sportsmen, not all are modest, not all view sport with a correct perspective. In Jack Lovelock, however, the youth of New Zealand has an admirable example. He has invariably shown himself a chivalrous opponent, modest in victory and smiling in defeat. Had he followed his inclination he would have run in the 5000 metres at the Olympic Games rather than the 1500 metres, but because there were so many of his old rivals in the shorter distance he felt that it would be more sporting to run in it than in the longer distance in which he felt his chances were better. He had his reward, but even if he had run last there would have been no complaints from him. Lovelock knows that there is no short-cut to success on the athletic field and trains very strictly for a race he is really keen to win. But he has never let running interfere with his studies. Sport to him is fascinating and valuable from the health point of view. But he knows that it is only of secondary importance in life: that the profession of medicine which he is following counts for a great deal more. He has shown that it is possible to be an amateur in the strictest sense of the word and yet win a world’s championship; and that it is possible to study hard and pass examinations, and yet excel in sport. It is a lesson which boys and girls in New Zealand could well learn. It is good to enter enthusiastically into games, good for health and good for character. But there is a time to play and a time to work, and those who have enthusiasm for games but not for work are unlikely to make much headway in the world. It is possible to win fame for a short time by excelling at some sport; but unless prowess in games is allied with a determination to succeed in the more serious business of life, a desire to eqJo oneself thoroughly for the calling one decides to follow, happiness and prosperity will not come. If every boy and girl follows the example of Lovelock, life should hold many riches for them, riches which count more than material wealth and which are often harder to acquire.