ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, 21 November 1912, Page 18

ATHLETICS.

WORLD’S GREATEST ATHLETE. HERO OF OLYMPIC GAMES. James Thorpe, the Indian athlete, who won .both the Pentathlon —which competition comprised the following ■events: Running broad jump, throwing the javelin (with the javelin held in the middle), best hand, 200 metres flat race, throwing the discus, best hand, and 1500 metres flat race —and the Decathlon —which competition comprised the following events: 100 metres flat, running broad jump, putting the weight, best hand, running high jump, 400 metres hurdle race, 110 metres, throwing the discus, best hand, pole jump, throwing the javelin (with the javelin held in the maddle), best hand, and 1500 metres flat —at the Olympic Games at Stockholm, is regarded as a marvel of strength such as the world has never hitherto seen. Thorpe when a lad at school was of normal development, being sft 5% in tall and weighing 1151 b. As bearing on his physical development, figures at hand now show that in 1908 he had jumped to sft 11 and his chest measurements at inspiration and expiration, respectively, were 41 and 35 inches. He then weighed 181. Three years afterwards, or on September 17, 1911, he was 6ft l-2in tall, weighed 1851 b, and inspiration and expiration measurements were 42%in and Smooth, even developments, without knots or bumps, has marked the Indian’s progress all along. Most remarkable of all, possibly, is the simple fact that he clearly showed by his marvellous performances at Stockholm that he is the greatest athlete in the world by only demonstrating a bare third of the possibilities that lie in his powerful, alert body. It must be understood that in addition to the eleven representative events included in his winning Pentathlon and Decathlon, he is equally proficient in such sports as throwing the hammer, swimming, skating, walking, rowing, and possibly another dozen of minor activities. ALSO SHINES ON GRIDIRON. In addition, he is a specialist and probably the greatest at football. He runs, side-steps, plunges, dodges as 'well as the best that ever lived. He punts and kicks goals with strength and precision, interferes or follows interference with cunning, shoots forward passes, and makes inside kicks with the best, and tackles and uses the stiff arm with almost perfect technique.

Thorpe pitches at baseball, while at basketball he is little short of a marvel,: playing any position. Included among the other sports which he has mastered are lacrosse, tennis, hoc-

key, handball, indoor baseball, indoor gymnastics, and medicine ball. Croquet, cricket, and golf are about the only sports Thorpe has left alone. He is enthusiastic over horseback, riding, and hunting, being a dead shot with rifle and shotgun. A REMARKABLE ATHLETE. EXHIBITIONS OF STRENGTH. The record of an athlete of 200 years ago has lately come to light at Calcutta, India, and if there is any truth in the history, of the man he would make the. giants of the present day look like novices. His name was Johann Karl Von Eckenberg, and he flourished in the early years of the eighteenth century. About that time the king of Poland was reputed to be the strongest man. on earth, but the account given of Eckenberg would mean that he could twist the king around his little finger. In commenting on the records of the strong man a writer who read them carefully remarks: — “He was the most stately of all gymnasts and was born in the town of Harzgerode, and out of respect to his Native town he called himself Samson Hercules Harzman. It borders on the fabulous what is related of his remarkable exhibitions of strength. He broke an anchor rope as if it was an ordinary thread, iron nails and bolts he turned playfully into screws between his fingers. A cannon pipe he carried around playfully as if it were a baby. His teeth were as strong as iron. He bit into

a piece of oak wood; then a strong cart horse was harnessed up to it. In spite of the horse being urged on it was unable to pull the athlete from the place where he stood. A bench made of wood, 16ft long, he grasped with his teeth by one end and carried it around, while a trumpeter blowing his instrument sat on the other end.

“His arm was more powerful than his teeth. He spread out his hands, on each one was placed a jug of wine, then a rope was attached to each wrist, and to each rope there were three men from the crowd who pulled with all their might, so as to make it impossible for this Hercules to convey the wine to his mouth. All their deal was without avail, as the arms of the gymnast bent themselves irresistibly and brought the jugs to his mouth without spilling a drop of wine. “He generally saved his grandest performance of strength until the close of the exhibition. He ascended a scaffold of beams, under which was a platform of thick planks fastened on strong chains. A trumpeter, mounted on a horse, clad as a herald, rode upon the platform and played his tune. The Hercules then took a place on the point of the scaffolding, held a glass of wine in one hand, and with the other, by means of the chains, lifted the heavy platform, the horse and the trumpeter high up from the floor, and for a little while held the whole weight, the trumpeter shrilly blowing a tune, while the athlete drank the glass of wine, at the same time giving a. toast to the magistrate and the citizens of the city in which he happened to be staying ”

The proposed visit of American athletes to Australia and New Zealand is at present engaging the attention of enthusiasts, and according to latest advices from San Francisco a strong team of champions is being got together. George Horine, who

holds the world’s high jump record, has expressed his willingness to make the trip, and that he is at present at the height of his form, is evidenced by the fact that he lately jumped 6ft 4in in an exhibition for the Australian Rugby football team now touring America. Other Wellknown American athletes who are expected to participate in the tour of Australasia are Martin Hawkins, the crack hurdler, who ran third at the Olympic Sports, Ralph Rose, and Ira Courtney, two champion sprinters, and McClure, a crack college distance runner.

That William Kolehmainen, of Finland, who won the Marathon Race at the Olympic Games, still retains his wonderful form was demonstrated at New York towards the end of October, when he broke three world’s professional running records whilst competing in an international Marathon Race around a circular track in the Stadium. He covered 26 miles 385 yards in 2hr 29min 39 l-ssec, bettering the record of 2hr 31min 21sec made at Powderhall, Scotland, in a Marathon Race last year by Hans Holmer, who finished second in today’s event. Kolehmain'en created new 25 and 26 miles figures in 2hr 22min 20 3-ssec and 2hr 28min 32sec respectively.

A large crowd witnessed the 130yds world’s championship race at Vale Park, Pontypridd (Eng.) between the crack sprinters, Jack Donaldson, of Victoria, and Reginald Walker, of South Africa. Both men had undergone a thorough preparation, the

Australian doing his work from Cardiff, and Walker at Brighton. Donaldson was established a firm favourite at 4 to 1 on. The weather was ideal, but the track was somewhat on the soft side. The men were got away by Mr Sonny Morten, of Manchester, and whereas Donaldson at once got into his stride, Walker appeared to hang. However, he soon made up leeway, but at 70yds -the Australian came through with a fine, raking stride, and although Walker made a final challenge, Donaldson won by quite four yards in the exceptionally fast time of 12 3-16 sec. It was a really great performance, considering that the track was not in its best condition.

“If the Australasian athletes desire to achieve success at the next Olympiad,” said Mr Vicary Horniman, the manager of the Australasian team at Stockholm on his return to Sydney, they must prepare. They must get to work if they want to beat the world. Our swimmers must make the art of starting their study, because that proved to be their weak point in the recent games. Our rowers will doubtless make a great effort to catch the world’s championship at Berlin in 1916. Before Stockholm some considered Henley and others the Olympiad the more important event, but voices now proclaim the Olympic race the chief. Our athletes require more encouragement and support, particularly at their sports meetings. Experts have generally expressed the opinion that to race on cinders a man should train on cinders, and not on grass. Our runners, too, must specialise at one particular distance.”