LESSONS FROM ABROAD

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14801, 15 November 1921, Page 8

LESSONS FROM ABROAD

THE LEAD IN SPORT.

WHY NOT “BOOST” AUSTRALASIA?

MISS KELLERMAN’S VIEWS

An authoritative figure in the swimming world, ana a Teen enthusiast in athletics generally, particularly so far as women arc concerned, arrived from Australia by the Rivcrina, in the person of Miss Annette Kcllerman, ex-champ-ion long-distance and middle-distance swimmer, cinema star, and vaudeville artiste. Miss Kellerman is an Australian by birth, but for the past twelve years has been in America, during which lime she has added to her reputation as an aquatic performer, success and popularity on the stage, and in filmland. In a chat with a representative of the New Zealand Times, Miss Kellerman made some interesting comments upon the progress of swimming in Australasia, and the factors which were at present militating against the rise of probable champion performers in sport' generally. When she went to America, she said, she found that the Americans were shocking swimmers. Tire sport seemed to be regarded in the States more from a dress point of view than from its utility or healthful advantages. Every club now had its coaches, and believed that amongst its members It had the making of a world’s champion. Out here in Australasia sport was indulged in for the fun of it, and the point had been reached when we should take it up more seriously, as the Americans were doing. Confidence in the belief that encouragement would result in fine performers being produced was the best thing possible. The Americans were now proceeding on right lines. This applied to tennis, and Everything else, and we must emulate their example. They trained their juniors, and gave them their constant encouragement and attention. Out here things were taken too casually—too easily. At a recent tennis championship in America there were ninety odd competitors in the junior event. America’s one slogan was “Boost America.” Out here it seemed to be “Boost everyone else, but leave Australasians alone.” The Americans were out to win everytime.

| “If you arc representing a country,” remarked Miss Kcllenmn, “you need every bit of push from that country, otherwise you are not going to get anyI where. When Miss Blcibtrey was out ! here we heard nothing in America but “Boost Elhclda! Boost Ethclda!” i Personally she was so anxious to see I Australasia at top in everything that she 1 found herself becoming more and more critical of things. It was not that we I were deficient at the present time, but | she. saw others coming on in other I countries. There was no doubt there I was the material here. As soon as i Brookes retired from the tennis world I there were hundreds of youngsters just 1 behind him waiting for an opening. Those were the people that should be lifted along. There was no reason why | Australasians should not be at the top J all the time in the matter of athletic I •championships. Everything was in favour of it. It was wonderful what pro- | gross the girls wore making in swimI ming. Up till a couple of years ago ; expert swimmers were few and far between but the visit of Miss Bleibtrey 1 had given the sport a great spurt. If we were to maintain our reputation as leaders of sport, we must give our reI presentatives to show | (themselves, and boost them for all we were worth.