The Washington times., 1922-04-09
.WEISSMULLER
In SPOTLIGHT
AS SWIMMER
Illinois Lad Hailed AS Greatest
Speedsfer in Water De-
veIoped in Recent Years.

WWAIL the new swimming
Nh marvel John Weismuller,
eighteen years old, of the
Illinois Athletic Club.
Weismuiler is the greatest
swimmer developed in years
Teddy Cam, former New York
University champion. who distin-
xuished himself by being the first
American athlete TO win q Con-
gressionai Medal Of Honor In the
world war, ia perhaps the ensS
aquatic star who ever made the
same sort of impression during
his first couple Of years Of conf
petition as did Weismuller.
Like Cam, tf& Windy City lad
developed his sensational speed
while a schooiboy. Cam was in
attendance at the High School OF
Commerce when he first broke into
the ranks OF worlds record holders.
weissmuller has just completed his
high school work.
Broke Nine Records.
weissrnuller has nine worlds
records to his credit. His senza-
tIonal swimming during the winter
months has been the most spectacu-
lar Of recent years. Recently he
gave one OF the most wonderful
exhibitions ever Witnessed In a nsta'
toriuin, when he broke the worlds
records for 200. ESQ. 500 yards and
300 meters. and Immediately after
ward equailed his own worlds mark
OF 20 is seconds for the half cen
tury.
He set two minutes Sis seconds
for the double century, minutes
Il seconds Cor $50 yards. 3 minutes
is 3.b seconds for 300 yards and .
minutes 35I-5 seconds for the 900
meters. These marks are sure TO
stand for some time 70 confe. No
other swimmer in competition ap-
pears to have a chance TO better
them. Any waterman who does so
will be considered the darkest sort
OF dark horse.
WeissmuIler Ia a giant In build.
Oldtimers compare him with Harry
| Lamoyne, a former Brookline Club
star Of eighteen years ago. Like
Lemoyne, the Windy City swim
mer stands well over the six-foot
mark. However, he carries himself
with grace and ease and does not
appear awkward as do many lads of
his height He has fine all
around development.
Has Ideal Build.
Like all great. swimmers OF the
past. the Windy City lad Is equipped
with a big pair OF nands and equally
large feet. IL has been said by fnofe
than one aquatic expert that the lad
who is not blessed with extra large
hands and feet has little chance in
developing into q water marvel.
| For this reason Weissmulier may bs
said 10 measureiup in every way 10
the ideal build for a worlds record
breaker.
welsmuller employs the Australian
crawl stroke in making his records.
This was first employed in this
country In record breaking feat by
Charley Daniels, the former New
York Athletic Club champion. Dan
Iels was developed in an exceedingly
short time. II is said that prior to
the time he was able to master the
| Australian crawl the New York A.
C. star was little better than sec
ond-rate performer. With the adop-
ton OF the Australian crawl came
unlocked for Improvement.
Gained Fame Rapidly.
.weissmuIIer developed in the
same way as did Daniels. Up TO
last winter few aquatic experts ever
heard OF him. True II Is that he
was performing IN the various school
meets in and around Chicago. How
ever, IL was not until last spring
that he began to make the critics
turn their eyes I'm his direction.
The Improvement shown by him In
the short time that he has been
racing Is wonderful. No other
swimmer in the history of the game
has even shown such sudden and
surprising form. Sport followers
who have watched him in most of
his record-brealting feats during the
past two months say that he has
not as yet reached his best form.
1t is likely that the Illinois A. c.
champion win receive his hardest
test in the relay race. The New
York A. G. has recruited one of the
fastest relay duartets in the coun-
try. Leeming, Jeliiffee, Philip
Genthner, Ted Cam and Hal Voll.
mer will sport the Mercury Foot
colors. This quartet has been
showing sensational form In prac-
tice swiTns.
Cam has mace the fastest time
ever recorded In the ". Y. A. c.
tank. Voilmer has come back into
the form that made him q few
years ago the greatest swimming
marvel OF the United States. Genth
ner lie the University OF Pennsyl-
vsnia star who has besn cutting
quite a figure in collegiate ranks.
LEWIS ON JOB.