Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-04-07
SWIMMING TALENT ANALYZED
Australian Not Willing to Concede
Much to Americans.
ANTIPoDEAN CRACKS HOPEFUL
when All Is Told II Appears that
Germany, Australia and United
states VIII Furnish Great
Fisht for LaureIs.

NEW YORK. April Cecil Healy Of
the East sydney Swimming club. New
South Wales, acting as the mouthpiece
OF his oountrymen, expresses the opinion
that although the Australian team SCI
lected to represent that country at the
Olympic games will be weak in some
respects, its overwhelming strength In
all the free style swims should make It
possible TO win the point trophy against
all other nations.
Hean evidently takes with a grain oil
salt any report OF unusual performances
by Americans, for he speaks OF the short
pools in which our sprinting records
have been created. and points out that
they cannot be compared with the marks
established by William Bopgworth. the
all around home champion, over straight
away or l1O-yard courses. He also ques-
tions the ability Of Perry McHillivray,
Harry Hebnerr and Richard Frzell to
cover the century under fifty-seyen
seconds, since they were beaten by c.
NJ Daniels last spring in o:56as. and he
seems particularly skeptical of Duke
Kahanamoku's speed. not even conceding
~
to the belief held by outsiders that the
Australians will be affected by the north
ern climate and the low temperature Of
the water. he laughs at the thought and
says Americans are much more likely to
suffer by the change.
HeaIy IL ArGumentatIye.
II In an argumentative frame OF MIND
Mr.. Healy might be reminded that as
far back as 1896 these same reasons were
put forth by the Australians to convince
themselves that IIealy was better man
than Daniels. and that he would defeat
the latter at Athens, but that when 1t
came to q showdown Daniels led Heaiy
to the finish by several yards, although
the course was straightaway. Daniels
again took his measure in England in a
seyenty-five-foot bath. and these are
facts which tho chronicles Of the day will
corroborate.
II must be admitted, nevertheless, that
Australia will have a formidable array
of swimmers at Stockholm and probably
take a good. share of the honors. Heaiy
says on the subject:
civilian Longworth. Harold HsTdwick
and Leslie Boardman and l will probably
compete in the SoO-meter relay race, and
we have averaged this season 2:sis over
a llo-yard course, which, Judging by past
performances, is faster by couple OF
seconds than any other quartet can do
under similar conditions. Then. Long
worth and Hardy have Travelled 100 yards
straightaway within inches Of each other
in o:5eI. a worlds record, which seems
to make them equal favorites for the
lleo-meter title. And all three-Longworth,
Hardy and myseif-should have ! chance
IN the 100 and l.5oO-meter races. for
Beaurepaire defeated Englsnd's best dis
ltance men in their own waters, yet coul5
not win in Australia on his return Long
worth's mile record. too. lis better than
Battersby's world record. IL We take con-
dftions into consideration. We should
score heavily in all four Of these events.
The complete overlooking BY Healy OF
George Hodgson Of Canada as posi-
bilty IN both the 100 and 1.0ameter
swins is not to he wondered at, as be
did not until a few months ago shoS
remarkable speed. but he will be In tn:
running, and this. added TO the fact that
Kahananioku Of Honolulu and Brettins
OF Germany are sprinting in wonderful
form. may somewhat upset the Austria
Ian calculations.