The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-27
by CHARLES PADDOCK

PARIS, May 25.--Some OF the best
Olympic athletes in France are col
lege men Practically all of the col
lege stars have been placed under
suspension by the French A A. L..
until December 81, 1924, because they
participated in the recent European
inter delegate meet with me against
the protest of the American A. A. L.
This would eliminate the strength of
France from the olympic games, at a
time when the French Olympic pros
poets are showing much Improvement
over the achievements of the tri-color
in the Antwerp games of 1920.
DO you think the sportsmen of
France will suffer their national ath-
letic prestige to be hammered down
in this manner because of a mere
jurisdictional squabble betweei gov
will have to back down or be abol-
ished If 1t is abolished. the Interna-
tional Association of Students will
govern French athletics, PROBABLY in
association with the French Univer-
sity club.
French strong in Sprints.
Elimination of a big group of the
star athletes of France by suspension
being too silly to consider. let us
therefore take up French olympic
prospects as they really are. The
lie in the sprints, the hurdles, the
jumps anck the long and middle dis
tances In the field events, aside
from the jumps and possibly the shot
put. France - rather weak.
1t was due to the coaching of Louis
Schroeder, the American. in Paris
that the French team did as well as
it did in Antwerp three years ago.
Ali Kahn, Ferry and Qullemot We're
products of his coaching and train
ing and they, who, had never been
heard of before. proved the sensa
tons of the meet.
These three will give France much
strength in 1924. though at present
none of them is going very well. Ali
Kahn has been out of competition
for some time and 1 don't know
whether he can get back in condition.
But in view of the dearth of sprint
ers in all nations. he may still be able
to win points for France without
being in his 20 form.
Guilemot, winner Of the Antwerp
5000 metres, who beat the "unbeat-
able" Nurmi Of Finland. also has
been losing races of late. Ferry.
who won the 400 metres in 1920. is
counted upon strongly.
Georges Andre Is in fine condition
and Arnaud. the halfmiler. reck-
oned one of the greatest middle dis
lance men In the world and certainly
the greatest France ever produced, is
trying to get In condition again al
though he is now 80 years old
Vermeulen. the best long distance
runner who ever wore the tri-color.
captor of the marathon and cross
country events in the inter-allied
games, has been renstated as an
amateur after a career as an inter-
national professional runner. Sempe
of Bordeaux, winner of the broad
jump with a leap of more than %
feet in the recent international in
tercollegiates here. also should win
some points in the olympics. for he
is young and strong and should get
up to "a feet in a year Sempe is
also a good hurdler.
Rene Mourlon, the Splinter, is in
good shape and he has young
brother who looks even better for
'24 Mourlon is training several
youngsters at Pershing stadium and
1t appears to me that France should
have strong four-man relay team
for both the 100 and 400 metres
events.
Finally. there is young Jackson OF
France in 1924.