WORLD’S CHAMPIONS.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 610, 22 February 1921, Page 4

WORLD’S CHAMPIONS.

HOW THEY INFLUENCE SPORT. There is nothing’ like the visit of a champion to revive interest in a sport. This was evidenced to somfr extent in New Zealand swimming circles at the time Norman Ross visited the Dominion ; but to a much greater extent in the recent visit of Miss Ethelda Bleibtree, champion lady swimmer of the world. Her prowess in the water she has amply demonstrated, and her easy, graceful style captivates the spectator. It is described as the six-beat double trudgeon stroke, there being three beats with the foot to each stroke of the arm. One of her last demonstrations in these waters before sailing by the Marama for Australia was given voluntarily while she was enjoying a swim at Buckland’s Beach, about six or seven miles out east from Papatoetoe.

Among tennis enthusiasts, the visit of the greatest Australian and American exponents of the game, and the memorable contests which were fought and decided in Auckland, have done much to arouse increasing interest. On club courts players are to be seen trying new strokes, a Patterson smash or a Johnston drive, while at home they perfect their style on a hastily-constructed pourt in the paddock, or in the confined space of a small back-yard. Although instances of this are to be seen at Pukekohe. it is at Papatoetoe that the recent popularity of the game is most pronounced ; and the amount of sport thus obtained certainly seems to reward players for their trouble.