SWIMMING.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 14801, 4 November 1921, Page 3

SWIMMING.

The Thames Swimming Club starts •the season with a credit balance, and every prospect of another successful year. The annual meeting was in every Avay satisfactory and with an energetic committee and enthusiastic officials, ■ successful galas should be recorded. It is intended to promote a carnival at an early date. . AMERICAN SWIMMERS. In the field of sport, and especially in swimming, America has produced ' some wonderful champions. These second-eliminating experts have, within the last few years, wrested the Avorld’s swimming laurels from the Australians. During last season three of America’s best Ethel Bleibtrey, Pua Kealolia, and Ludy Danger—were matched against Australia’s best, and justified their reputations. Since their return to the States cables have told us of their still more wonderful, performances. Recordbreaking, it seems, is to them an approved hobby, such as collecting stamps or dodging the income-tax collector. In view of the tales Of deeds unsurpassed, the following report, Avhich appeared in the Evening Telegram, of New York, dated August, 1921, might be of interest to swimming enthusiasts here:— “In the most remarkable race in the history of swimming, Miss Ethelda Bleibtrey, the peerless young natator of the New York Women’s S.A., Avon the senior national A.A.U. championship over a 3-J miles course from Point Breeze to the Brighton Beach Baths, Miss Charlotte Boyle, also of the N.Y.W.S.A., took second place, and Miss Margaret Woodbridge, of the Detroit A.C., holder of the American record of one mile, was third.

“Miss Bleibtrey’s time, 56min. 27 sees., Avas 29min. 33sees. faster than the women’s record for the course.”

Despite the boost which Miss Bleibtrey received whilst here, she was, in view of this report, greatly underrated. Covering 3£ miles in 56min. 27secs., her average of one mile was about 16min. 7secs. Miss Fanny Durack’s world’s record for one mile, created in Sydney in 1914, is 26min. Bsecs., and Frank Beaurepaire’s world record for the distance, created in Melbourne early this year, is 23min. 28secs. > But Miss Bleibtrey, according to the report, must have covered at least the first mile of her race in less than 16min. 7secs. Perhaps swimmers here will form their own ideas as to the accuracy of the report. Further down th e report says: “A favouring ebb tide helped the swimmers, but a still breeze swept the course and sent crest-topped seas slapping shoreward, mailing the going heavy and hard.” It must have been some tide! But Miss Bleibtrey is not the only long distance genius. “Three girls, not yet in their teens, were among the starters,” says the report. “The venturesome lassies were Kdthryn Brown, Ruth Morgan, and Julia Marmorstein. Miss Brown, who is 11 years old, landed sixth place, swimming the distance in lhr. 3min. 53sec. Miss Morgan, who is also 11 years old, finished the course in lhr. 3min. When hauled out of the water she smiled, started to dance, and asked for a ‘hot dog.’ She was ready for another long swim, too. “Her seventy pounds were against Miss Marmorstein, who is just 10. She had that ‘do-or-die’ look when she started, but after struggling bravely fox* a mile she called the boatman and she was the only one of the field of 26 swimmers who failed to complete the course.” America is indeed a -wondei'ful place.