CHAMPION SWIMMERS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 20, 19 October 1920, Page 3

CHAMPION SWIMMERS

VISIT TO AUSTRALASIA THIS SEASO-W

It is settled that both Kahanamoku and Kealoha will visit Australia this swimming season, and it is possible that they will also come to Now Zealand. The question is who will be the third member of the American team? The Australian Swimming Union decided to invite three swimmers and the. ]''rench-Canndian, George. Yernot, was approached at the same time as the Hawniinns. But Yernot had flitted homewards, en route from the Olynipio Games, prior to the cable reaching London. !The union then cabled the invitation direct to the Canadian Swimmine Association. Some time has elapsed and there, is no reply. The delay mayit is feared, mean that. Yernot cannot make the trip. The union has by no means surrendered all hope, but is taking the precaution of,, in the meantime, ca.sting about for another equally good midd];e-distaiice American. • An all-round, team is desired. Kahananioku ami Kealoha aie lilu-ri-distnncc performers, although the Duke is good for tiny race up to half a mile. But the further he goes the greater are his. comparative figures.' He is not a worldbeater over the middle and longer distances. Vernot would have filled the bill nicely. Should he not come, there is an equally good performer in Ludy Langer, an American Olympic, representative. Doubtless he will bo approached if Yernot fails.

' Langer has been prominent in American swimming for some eight or nine years. He first attained greatness as a member of the University til" California, swimming team, and later as a representative of the Kcdpndo Olympic Club. His specialties nre the niiddle distances—from n quarter to three-quar* ters of a mile. He has held several of thv American records, and at the reeent Games was second to Boss in the ifiO metres swim, which was won in smin. 50 4-.Tsec. Langer has done even bettor time than this for the distance, but doubtless, v hc, like the Australian repre-B'.-nffl.tivcs, suffered from the excessive cold.

He ha? bettered the wonderful time put up by Kieran for the MO yar<l*Bmin. Msec.—at Lavender Bay Baths in 1905. In tidal water at Honolulu in 1917 he negotiated the distance in smin. 17see„ which is faster than the time' recorded l>y the world's champion. Boss, at the City Hatha, Melbourne, early this year—smin. ID 4-ssec. Langer is also one'of the world's lending back-stroke swimmers, and his a Cmin. 18 3-sseo. swim for 400 metres to his credit. This time, established at Ran Francisco in 1914, stands as a world's record. At the recent Olympiad he beat Vernot in the WO metres. ,