Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-06-28
BY Bud Goodwin.

T T may be that I hold too optimistic
Wow of the situation, but I am
frank to confess that | don't see
why Americans shouldn't gather in as
many points in the Olympic swimming
events as England, Germany and Aus
tralia, whose squads are reputed to be
the strongest
England lacks sprinters and fancy
divers of championship caliber; Aus
tralia has only four men to take care
of 1ine events and not a diver, a breast
stroke or back stroke swimmer among
them; and Germany IS noticeably def
cient in the two middle distances, so
that any weak spots on our team will
be counterbalanced by those of others.
Big Array of Talent.
For the 100-meter sprint we have
Duke Kahanamoku. of Honolulu; Har-
ry Bebner and Perry McGillivray. of
the Illinois A. G., and Kenneth HUI
zagh. of the Chicago A. A. No more
than four foreigners are in their class
William Longworth. Harold Hardwick
and Cecil Healy, of Australia, and C.
Bretting, of Germany
AS to Bretting, he is undoubtedly
fast, but his best 100 meter outdoor per-
formance in | minute seconds. does
not look unbeatable. On the other hand.
while every one seemed rabidly skep-
teal last August of Kahanamolu's
straightaNay century" in 50 % see
onds look what he did to our best
eprinters during the indoor season in
spite of climatic changes and total un-
familiarity with pool swimming.
Longworth in Short Races.
Longworth the favorite. is booked to
take part in the 100. 400 and 1900
meter sWms, as we'll as in the relay
race, with several heats thrown in for
good measure If he can train so as to
be al his best for every event, and do
himself Justice in so many races he'll
accomplish what no other man has done
before
The 40O-meter prospects are not
nearly so bright. but after hearing
from Coach Kistler that he has been
working Kahanamoku over half mile
courses. and seeing the dusky islander
beat our best furlong men by some ten
yards in the relay tryout the length of
which was nearly 225 Yards, by the
uayl, Tn beginning to think that mat
ters are decidedly not as hopeless as
they've been painted It would not CUR
pri, me bit to see that boy upset
calculations. even though Jim Reilly
and Nick Nerich should figure
Condition Tells in 1900 Meters.
Al t.500 meters much will depend on
Reilv's condition II he is as fit as
when he created the American stand
ard Of - minutes 40 seconds for one
mile, last August he should be in the
running
The 500 meter relay race will un-
doubtedlv be won by the Australians
unless they suffer an awful slump, for
on paper they are quite twenty seconds
faster than any other team in the field.
l expect the fight between England
Germany. Hungary and the United
States to he very close. with odds
evenly divided, but I'm a lot more con
fdent of America landing in the awards
since seeing the great work done by
Kahanamoku and Huzzagh in Verona
lake
Places Faith in Hehner.
For the 100-meter back stroke swim.
l place great faith IN Harry Hebner.
Aside from holding the worlds record
Of minute is seconds. he is one
of the most reliable swimmers | have
ever known.
At 200 meters McDermott has done
2 minutes SO seconds. 2 worlds mark
and, apart from Baronyi, Of Hungary.
who previously held the record with
minutes 80 As seconds. there is not n
entrant who has beaten , minutes 40
seconds Toldi of Hungary Battle and
Luetzov. of GERMANY Courbet, of Ger
many: Demian, of Austria Courtmann,
of England. and couple of Swedes all
good for between minutes A. seconds
and 9 minutes 43 seconds, are expected
10 be McDermotts most formidable
rivals.
As to the outlook for winning the
point trophy. ! imagine We have about
equal chance With Germany and Eng
land The Australian squad is too
small to score heavily, and the other
countries will hardly be suong enough
to figure
OTADT hV TnAHnppnIAI