LESLIE OLDS

Evening Star, Issue 19665, 19 September 1927, Page 14

LESLIE OLDS

FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP Hi U.S.A. [By Hooker.] When Leslie Olds, then only twelve years of age, startled the New Zealand swimming world last season by carrying off all tho New Zealand junior boys’ championships and established fresh junior figures for 100yds, 220yds, and 440yds free stylo events and for 75yds breast stroke, it was then recognised that Otago and New Zealand had produced something the nature of a swimming prodigy, and his departure for America with his father, who is now a professional coach in the United States, was regarded as a national loss. Naturally his doings in America will be watched with keen interest by New Zealand swimming followers, and to-day cable advice was received by tho writer that Leslie had won his first championship race on tho other side. His success was achieved in tho 50yds championship at Lakeside, San Diego, California, the time lie returned being"?/ 3-sscc. This is sensational time for a "boy of thirteen, and time that is beyond' the reach of most senior swimmers in New Zealand. In fact, tho timo regarded as tho standard handicap scratch mark for 50yds in Now Zealand is little bettor, being 26sec. When “ Buster ” Olds arrived m America ho was hailed as a fast swimmer, and his recent success will set critics thinking. Ban Die"o is a prominent swimming centre, and" 5 his further activities will be watched with great interest. His recent time was 2 2-ssec better than that he returned m establishing a Now Zealand junior record for the distance at the Otago championship last December. He is a natural speed swimmer, but his successes have been due in a very large measure to the wonderful coaching of his father (E. 11. Olds).