The New York herald., 1921-01-09
PRETTY GIRLS ARE
AMONG WORLDS
LEADING SWIMMERS
The Misses Bleibtrey, Boyle,
Wainwright and Riggin
All New York Stars.
HOLD MANY RECORDS
American Mermaids Who Have
Competed With Success in
Waters Near and Far.

Pulchritude and proficiency seem to
60 hand in hand in competitive swim
ming for women. Aquatic authorities
claim that It is because swimming is
the most beneficial of athletic sports,
improving the entire system and engen-
dering health and comeliness in its gem
tie devotees. Be this as 1t may, pretty
girls predominare among our champion
mermaids. II may be doubted that any
other branch Of sport enjoyed by Amer
lean women can muster so fair group
of leading stars.
At the head Of the local contingent OF
water queens are four unusually attrac-
tive lsssies. whose exploits place them
atop of the International field, the
Misses Ethelda Bleibtrey, Charlotte
Boyle. Helen Wainwright and Aileen
Riggin OF the New York Women's S. A.
To Miss Bleibtrey is conceded the
honor OF being the greaest all around
swimmer Of her sex ever developed
Throughout last year she reaped the
bighest laurels at stake. After winning
every home championship she tried for
and shattering national or worlds rec
ords virtually each time she competed
under standard conditions. she placed
hitting climax on a season of sensational
achievement by rouping away with the
two Olympic swims held for women in
Antwerp. at 100 and 800 metres. In
these contests she lowered the respec-
tive Olympic records to ] minute 10 s-5
seconds and 4 minutes 81 seconds. or
i-5 and . 2-5 seconds under the for
nner figures. Two of her previous per-
formances. 100 yards free style in 1
minute 10 seconds. and the same dis
lance with back stroke in / minute
N arA l..
,perts the finest feats ever accomplished
oy women swimmers.
Miss Boyle was the only girl who sue
ceeded IN scoring a victory over Miss
= FBleibtrey in 1920 She beat her at 200
yard swimming in Honolulu. But she
also gave the Olympic champion many
hard battle on other occasions. and
she swan her virtual dead heat in
the history making race in which Miss
bleibtrey broke the worlds record for
100 yards. At present Miss Boyle holds
the American standard OF I'm. % 4-5s
for 20 yard swimming ana, the national
championship in plunging for distance.
14-Year-OId Prodigiex. i
OF Helen Wainwright and Aileen Rig
gin, little fourteen-year-old prodigies
one speaks in the same breath. IN
separable chums and closely matched
In all branches of workmanship, they
have developed side by side, mutually
helpful always, enjoying keen rivalry
In the most friendly spirit of sports
manship. Now they stand with the
worlds all round leaders, quite peer
less among girls OF their own age.
Helen won the American olympic
fancy diving tryout for women last sum-
mer. defeating Aileen. but the latter
turned the tables and earned interna-
,1I E.
board championship at Antwerp, with
Helen second. one point behind. OBJ
viously these victories stamp them fore
most among the worlds fair divers.
In swimming Helen took the women's
metropolitan junior 100 yard free style
title and Aileen evened up matters by
beating her In the century back stroke
event. Together they helped to smash
the women's worlds record for 40 yard
indoor relay swimming. In the national
$50 yard championship they finished sec
ond and fourth. Helen securing the
place and outswimming. among others,
Miss Margaret Woodbridge of Detroit,
national titleholdcr at 500 yards and
runner up in the Olympic 300 meter test
Both have figured prominently in mara
thon races. A wonderful young pair
Miss Eleanor Smith of Cleveland. who
wore the colors of the Morningside A. c.
OF New York until recently. is another
pretty maid rated supreme in her par
ticular field. She won the national 100
yard breast stroke championship of
1910 i'm 25 1-5 seconds, the fastest time
ever made in a pool by member OF
the sex. and she holds also the Ameri-
can record Of ~ 2-5 for 200 yards at
this style OF swimming.
Detroit has produced n champion of
exceptional pulchritude in Miss Marie
Curtis Last August, while represent
ing the Detroit A. c., she gave a truly
remarkable exhibition of skill. versa
tility and stamina. On the same day
she won the national long distance
swimming classic and defended success
fully her title of all around aquatic
champion of Detroit in series of
events, which included contests In div
ing. plunglng and all styles of swim
ming She Is in California now COM
peting for the Los Angeles A. c.. and
breaking records frequently.
Miss Florence Gather. a comely
Young woman OF the Illinois A. c., Is
Chjcago's ranking free style swimmer.
She has placed 70 her credit many
championships and hung I'D a number
OF state records. Her most recent per-
formances have convinced critics OF the
Windy city that she will land among
the national iconoclasts before long.
Mermatds FROM the facthc toasts
Three nermaids OF the Pacific sea-
board who combine good looks and ster-
ling ability are Miss Thelma Finn Of
the Los Angeles A. G. of Los Angeles.
Miss Dorothy Becker OF the Neptune
Club OF Alameda and Mrs Anna wag-
staff OF the Crystal Pool S. G. OF Seattle.
Wash.
Miss Finn is ono OF the speediest free
style swimmers in the country The
winner OF Ions string OF Pacific A. a.
u. CHAMPIONSHIPS. she has covered nifty
yards IN tne worlds record time OF 20
seconds, and 100 yards In 1 minute
seconds. a mark onistJ beaten by Miss
Bleibtrey and Miss Boyle under the
same conditions last year. Miss Becker
is q former worlds recordist at nfty
yards free style. the present fancy div
ing champion OF the Far West and the
holder OF several coast swimming titles.
She is credited with half n dozen sec
tional standards for free style. breast
and back stroke sprinting, and her
coach feels very confident she will at
tain worlds record speed this season.
Mrs. wsgstaff made virtually clean
sweep OF the swimming championships
OF the Pacific Northwest In 1920, and
now has 10 her name nearly all the
women's free style records for the dis
trict. Latest reports indicate that she
may make her mark In national com
petition hereafter.
The foregoing are but a few OF the
many pretty maids who have won sig