SWIMMING.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 September 1926, Page 3

SWIMMING.

Australian & N.Z. Cable Assueuiiiun.j

LONDON, September 10. This has been tho most remarkable ...annul s.vimnnng year m history, lu -he first place, never previously have tour successes been recorded ui one season. t With such a remarkable succession .if record-breaking times, the Channel is obviously vanquished. This is most apparent in the way. in which tho public and press interest has dwindled. It will require a phenomenal performance to arouse new enthusiasm. J) or instance, when the Frenchman, -Michel, who is a huge, broad-shouldered man, landed, after his new record, a ready wit among the crowd exclaimed: “Why he’s swum over before breakfast!” Another wit noticing Michel’s huge bulk, said: “I hope he brought his rations with him! ”

Michel is 3(5 years of nge. He holds the French Marathaon championship for forty kilometres.

Experts point out that up £o 1923 the only successful cross-channel swimmers were those who started from England. In that year Tirnhosohi, the Italo-South American showed that by starting from France, the time could he reduced considerably. Alter that, all the successful swimmers have set out from 'France, and the times occupied in crossing have steadily dwindled.