SWIMMING.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15975, 18 November 1919, Page 3

SWIMMING.

AMERICA'S CHAMPION.. Norman Ross’s approaching’ visit continues to be the chief themo in swimming circles in Sydney. Sergeant Albert Barry, just back from active service, and the man who accompanied the Sydney swimmers in their last New Zealand tonr, during a chat, said; “Ross is one of the greatest swimmers I have ever seen in action. Distance makes no difference. He is a wonder over everything from 50 yards to the five miles. He is a regular giant, stands about 6ft 4in and built in proportion.” Sergeant Barry Attributes a great deal of Rosa’s speed to his remarkable physique, but not all. For instance, the American has developed his powers of propulsion in the water alofig lines entirely his own. They appear to be novel as well as effective. Ross, according to Barry, who studied his methods closely in Paris, “hops over” with a sharp tmdgeon kick, and then brings into action the four-flutter with a double overarm stroke. But it is in the turn that Ross shows himself a brainy opponent in sustaining his speed. Unlike Billy Longworth and many other good men, Ross does not describe a half-circle in turning, but rolls gracefully on one side, keeping his feet moving like a paddle-wheel in full motion, and shoots away torpedo-like from a powerful kick-off. By this means Barry says that Ross can easily gain two yards on an opponent at every turn, He also gets the most out of his dive§ and it was noticed in Paris that he frequently gained a yard and a half on his opponents by this means. A fine side-stroke action has also been developed by tlie American., work while negotiating his turn and his sustained paddle-wheel feet action without breaking the water was a matter of deep interest to the Diggers who watched him. Barry is quite enthusiastic about the American champion’s methods, and thinks just as the “Duke’s kick” was taken up, so will Ross’s ideas be emulator j Already Longworth, Solomon, Stedman, and others were practising the Ross method. With the exception of Longworth, Stedman, Beaurepaire, and Ted Solomon, Barry does not like our chance of downing the American. Ivan Stedman, who hails from the Melbourne Club, he expects to do well against his in distaiices up to balf a mile. He swam third to Ross in the 100 metres in Paris, and third in the quarter mile, being just beaten for second place by Solomon and Longworth respectively.