SWIMMING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 20 December 1924, Page 10

SWIMMING.

According to the American swimming experts, John Weissmuller has a dangerous rival for the world’s sprint championship in George Fissler, of New \ork. George Fissler, of New York Boys’ Club (18), won his third Metropolitan A.A.U. senior swimming championship at BayvilLe, Long Island, recently, and it was an impressive victory. Competing over a 50-metre open watercourse, he won the 100 metre freestyle sprint in 59 4-ssec, defeating among others Harry Lewis, of the Brooklyn Y.M.C.A., who, finished second. There is no overlooking the significance _ o.f young Fissler’s success over Lewis, a swimmei* who has swum 100 yard s in 55sec repeatedly this year. I This latest achievement, following his easy wins in the Metropolitan 440 and 880 yards classics,- lias convinced American experts that Fissler is destined to become dpe of Amefica’s leading' allround swimmers. Fissler’s time/ was only 4-osec outside of that registered by Weissmuller in winning the Olympic 100 metres championship at Paris. ANOTHER GIRL wonder. One of the most startling performances ever achieved by a child swimmer- is that of JLisa Lindstrom, aged 12, of New YorkiWiSiA. ■ Competing over a 55-yard surveyed course at Bay Shore, Lc.ng Island, this

little .wonder mermaid thrashed ’llO 1 yards in the amazing time of. 1.24. An idea of the rating of the feat may he gained by considering that Lisa must have passed 100 metres on tlie way in or under 1.23 3-osec, beating' the figures. returned by - several of the foreign maids ini the heats of the recent Olympic sprint in Paris, and equalling the time of a couple of the semi-finalists.' A NEW “BOY” CHARLTON? In Harold Reeve, aged 15, Manly. Amateur Swimming Club possesses a valuable member, and one who is expected to develop into a performer out of the ordinary. Young Reeve, who has a spltehdid stroke, is a real swimmer .and lias iid time for useless sprint races. The longer the race the better Harold likes it. Last season although a junior, he won Manly Club’s senior. 880 yards championship ’in the excellent lime of 12 miii 58 sec, and later took the 220 yards junior title in 2min 4Gsec. He represented his club in Northern Suburbs District championships, being placed third in the 100 yards- ' junior . and third in the 440 yards senior .title events.

When “Boy” Charlton decided not to swim in the mile championship , Manly noriiihated Harold Reeve to- fill the breach, aiid although unplaced the lad gained great praise for his plucky showing. FATHER AND SON WIN. It is hot often that one sees father and son winning swimming races in the one club. Recently Galland, senr.i won the Bondi event, and his son waft mst m the final of the same club’s 100 y^ s ,e ven t. As a matter of fact, the pan* brought off a ‘‘double” the prevfbiis week-end. Gallaiid, junr., finished first, but was disqualified for breaknig his time. Had he been within the limit the ©vent would indeed have been unique in the swimming world. < THE REFEREE BRONZE MEDALS'*’ oll SPECIAL FEATS IN AUSTRALASIAN SPORT. To specially commemorate striking performances in boxing, running, hurdBygj. broad jumping, cycling, cricket, sculling, wrestling, fencing, lawn teiims, soccer football, Rugby football, Australian football and other brandies or sport, and the Boy Scouts, the Referee will present a handsome bronze medal to the individual oi* to each member of a team or crew achieving the performance. They are designed by the most famous Parisian \ artists; and ai 'e tlie finest trophies of the kind ever offered in any sport. They are to encourage the highest possible excellence in sport and sportsmanship in every Australian State and in New Zealand.