The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-06-07
Johnny Weissmul|er Congratu.
IateS Tribune for Swim.
ming Features
RATIFIED SWIMMERS BEATEN
One Of Worlds Greatest Swim
mers Recommends Seri-
Gus Practice
BY JOHNNY WEISSMULLER
1924 and 1928 Olympic Champion


Tribune BY arrangement with
Swimmer Magazine.)
Before writing my article on sprint
swimming. allow me to congratulate
The Bismarck Tribune for coopcrat-
ing in the Safety for Swimming"
campaign. A. drive of this sort has
been needed for a number Of years,
as evidenced by the yearly increase in
drownings. and now that the SWIM
mers have banded together with the
coaches and organized groups to pro-
mote swimming, let Vi make it an
annual event.
Although I have turned profession
al, I m going to cover my experiences
as an amateur swimmer.
I. for one, believe that champion
ship sprint swimmers depend upon
the following for their crowns III
competition: Psychology. SO per cent:
form. 80 per cent; strength, 10 per
cent.
May Appear Surprising
It may appear surprising that the
science Of psychology plays such an
important part. It will seem so to
those high school and college SWIM
mers who possibly have cut their psy-
chology class time and again to prac-
tice their strokes. Nevertheless, I have
found that the majority of my own
victories were attained not so much
by the sheer swimming Of the race
but by outwitting the other fellows
before the race.
nlNYsiSAn t11O f,soi,1ia10 NN0ViNN for rNt-
tain Swims. for example. say the 100
yard distance. I will repeatedly try to
break the standing record, and, If I
do. will let 1t be known. The other
swimmers who have been shooting
at the old standard. and who could
not go under the old mark, will i'm
mediately get to worrying over the
new record set. AS soon as the worry
clement enters the mind Of the COM
pctitor I know that I have the adj
vantage over him. His form is shot"
and he. will try to outdistance me on
his strength alone. His style is thrown
to the winds. his swimming is erratic,
and he finally will break near the
finish when I draw away from him
with my reserve strength. which l
only bring into play about 20 yards
from the finish.
. +. Form Helps Much
Form adds a great deal IN the ac-
tual sprinting. / have found that rid
ing high in the water lessons the re-
sistallce~ which usually spells defeat to
most swimmers. Keeping the body
parallel with a steady kick gives one
the rhythmic movement necessary.
AS far as strength is concerned, in
my particular case speed is derived
from the pull of the arm. from Shout
der to hip. If you have wiry arms the
same results will be apparent.
The four-bcat crawl, with two kicks
Of the leg to each turn of the arm.
or four beats to each complete circle
Of tho arms, is preferable to the six
and cight-beat ones used by many.
There is no chopping and rigid glide
with the four-beat Is you'll find with
the others. Breathing. no matter what
type you use, should be done from the
left side.
Kept Opponents Waiting
But. coming back to psychology
again. q trick I use occasionally. not
for grandstand play. as might be sus-
pected. but for the reactions of the
human mind to them. is keeping my
opponents waiting and thereby max
ing them nervous and tense. l cannot
impress upon aspiring Sprinters too
much the value Of these bits Of psy-
chology.
While my rivals take a duck before
a race for limbering- up purposes, I
usually walk to the side Of the pool
unnoticed. Then, when the start ap-
breaches. / plunge in and swim about
for 80 seconds Of SO. This delay is
sure to jar upon the nerves Of the
contestants and make them uneasy.
hey are not up to par. 50 to speak.
and consequently leave me 1t . slight
advantage.
So you see you have to be able to
beat the next fellow before the race
as well as In II.
just bit OF advice in closing:
Practice as II you were swimming the
actual race. Go after the record. don't
just spiash about. and you'll find that
when the racescomes It win be just z
repetition, which Is what It should be.