OLYMPIC GAMES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 265, 2 July 1932, Page 2

OLYMPIC GAMES

REVIEW OF TEAMS AMERICA WILL FIELD SOME OUTSTANDING SPRINTERS. . WONDERFUL TALENT. !3peed, speed — nothing but speed! A world of speed. That's the promise of the coming Olympic Games. The whole world is speeding up as nevef before. This is the foreeast of Robert Edgren, well known American sports writer. And he adds: Our modern Olympies have become the most amazing sport festival in all history. The games of the Roman Emperors were circus side-shows eompared to it, the games of the Greeks a county fair. New Zealand's team is now en route to Los Angeles, where the tenth Olympiad is to open on July 30. Each member of tha team has a big task ahead. In the various spheres of sport in whicK they are to compete they will meet noted performers from all parts of the world, and judging from reports that come to hand from time to time, there promises to be, as Robert Edgren forecasts, some sensational performances at Los Angeles. But who ! knows, when it comes to the acid test, that New Zealand may not win one or more Olympic crowns? This time the Dominion is represented by the biggest team that has left these shores to date, and, in an agreeable climate, it can be taken for granted that the team wiil do its best to add further lustre to the country's fine sporting record. As usual, America has planned an elabqrate programme of try-outs in connection with the selection of its athletic team, and already the wisdom of this course has been questioned by at least one writer. He says the fact that the United States was able to win only one individual race on the flat at the last Olympies would seem to lend weight to the argument against strained competition during trials and eliminations. Wonderful Sprinters. At the time of writing, America's track team has not been selected, but there is every indication that the United States will be represented by a very formidable contingent. There is this year some wonderful sprinting talent — Frank Wykoff, Eddie Tolan, I George Simpson, Hector Dyer, Les

— - "■ y i Hables, Bob Kiesel, and Emmett Top- ' pipo, to mention just a few. Then . quite recently a cable message fpom Chicago gave the news that Ralph Metcalf, a negro runner, set new world's records for 100 metres, 220 yards, and 200 metres, Kiesel, or "Bullet Bob," as he is calied, has created something of a sensation as much by his defeat of Wykoff, reputedly the "world's fqstest human," as by his professed indifference to the track. This yourig athlete has "burst" to the front suddenly, and if he sticks to the track it is claimed that he is sure to find a place in the American team. But Kiesel more than ouee has professed a sound disiike for running, and has said that he would not compete at the Olympic Games, even if he should P'rove good epo.ugh. He is looked upon as the enigma of the athletic world in America. Apart from the sprinters, possible American representatives in some of the other events would appear to be Gene Venzke, 1500 metres; Ben Eastman, 400 arid 800 metres arid George Spitz, high jumper. In the case of these three men, it has been urged that they have so clearly demonstrated their superiority that they should not be asked to go through a series of trials. As mehtioned recently in "The Post," Eastman, within a fortnight, broke the quarter-mile and half-miie world's records. "That 'gangling,' spectacled speedster of Standford," is how the American Press refers to Eastman. WilRaius' Prospects. ' Since the last Olympic Games in Amsterdam, the injury jinx has followed Percy Williams, the young Canadian who created a sensation by running away from the Americans in both the 100 metres and 200 metres. According to reports, however, he has started training at Seattle, and the view is than he cannot be counted out of the Games at Los Angeles. Another report says that after the Olympiad Williams intends leaving the cinders and will try to become a swimming champion. If Miss Betty Robinson (U.S.A.), who won the 100 metres ladies' title ' ■ at the last Olympic Gomes, is able to get back to form it will be one of the miracles of sport. She was in an aeroplane that nose-dived 400 feet twelve months ago, and her left arm and leg were broken. After months in hospital and on crutches, Miss Robinson is out again training for the Olympic try-outs. British Team. Lieutenant G. L. Rampling, the English quarter-mile champion, who is expected to have a good chance of winning the 400 metres race for Britain at Los" Angeles, has also been in hospital. He was in hospital for three months, but on his discharge he stated he intended getting into form immediately. W. A. Land, a" high-jumper who registered some sensational performances last year, is said to be Britain's first choice. It is reported that he has been invited to represent Great Britain. It is stated there is a possibility that the Cambridge crew which beat Oxford in this year's 'Varsity boat race may be selected to represent Great Britain at Los Angeles. There is a condition attached to this. The crew that represents Britain in the Olympic Games must compete at the Henley Regatta, and race for the Grand Challenge Cup. Iln the selection of the athletes to represent Britain much will depend upon the form shown in the English championships next month. Other Teams. Contrary to expectations, Holland is sending no boxers to the Los Angeles Olympic Games. A team of nineteen has been decided on, the competions to be taken being athletics, cycling, rowing, swimming, fencing, sailing, the pentathlon, and riding. Poland, like the other European nations, is sending only those athletes who can be expected to put up a good show at Los Angeles, and at present three only are spoken of as likely to go, writes A. O. Robbins. Kusocinski, a distance runner, who has competed in the English A.A.A. championships, has been chosen for the 5000 metres. The other two are ffeld events men — Plawczyk, who can get 6ft 2in in the high jump, and Heijasz, who is credited with 49ft 3in with the weight, and over 148ft with the discus. Mdle Konopacka, Poland's lady field events champion, will be unable to go to Los Angeles owing to a serious illness. Sweden will probably send a team of 60, including 12 to 15 track athletes, four swimmers, four cyclists, and four for the modern pentathlon. The Jap'anese have shown great enthusiasm. They plan to have 203 contestants. Other nations which had reported up till the end of May as to probable size of their teams were: — Italy, 120; Germany, and Great Britain, 125 each; France, 76; Mexico, 50, 40 each from Denmark and Finland, 24 from India, and 12 from South Africa. Australian Invitation. . The Victorian Amateur Athletic Association has been 'giving consideration to the question of inviting several American athletes to Australia during the next track season. The atheletes the Victorian A.A.A. have in view are Frank Wykoff, Ben Eastman, Percy Beard (120yds and 440yds hurdles), and Bernard Berlinger (track and field all-founder).