Visit of Arne Borg is Notable Swimming Event

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 607, 8 March 1929, Page 6

Visit of Arne Borg is Notable Swimming Event

Mighty Szvede will Race Cameron and Bridson in Auckland 'Tepid Baths at Monday Night’s Carnival

"Whatever Arne Borg, Sweden’s wonder swimmer, does when he races at the Tepid Baths on Monday evening, his appearance will mean the arousing of the most extraordinary interest. Borg is not likely to be troubled. In neither the 100 yards nor the quartermile lias New Zealand anyone to approach him, but he will certainly make the pace against handicap men. While realising that Borg has no

one to be considered as a rival of even moderate calibre, Auckland’s big public will flock to the baths. Everyone will want to see Borg. His drawing power is immense. PERSONALITY GIVEN HIM It is Borg’s personality. Or, more correctly, the personality Borg has had pressed upon him by irrepressible Australian papers. There is little of the showman about Borg, who is actually unassuming. Much photographed, much eulogised, he has been forced into his high position in the sporting limelight. Borg is one of the great sports stars. The Australians know it. In spite of English views that Australian criticism is one-sided the Australians have shown no stint in their admiration of a swimmer who has over-rid-den their titles with extraordinary vigour. Neither have the Australians been too generous. Borg has merited all the praise he has received.

With a train of wrecked records behind him, Borg will come, before Aucklanders on Monday evening. His appearance in Auckland some years ago was sufficient to cause nthusiasm to flood over, and his second bow to Auckland after a riot of easy victories will cause something in the way of record enthusiasm.

Firstly, Borg will have matched against him in the 100 yards Billy Cameron, of Wellington, New Zealand champion for the distance. The meeting will be the biggest event New Zealand swimming has seen. Cameron can break 57 seconds for the distance. What Borg can do over the 100 yards now is not known, although his best time is 53 seconds. Even then, Cam-

eron will most probably improve tremendously on his own time with Borg racing him. Then, in the quarter mile, the New Zealand, title holder, Gordon Bridson,

and the record holder, David Lindsay, aro being brought into action. Borg is certain of a simple win, of course, but everyone will bo expecting him to give a masterly solo showing. M ETHODICAL How Borg plans out his lap times before a, race reveals a streak of originality. Perhaps it is matter-of-fact originality. “I shall swim the first 100 yards in 05 seconds, 220 yards in two minutes 25 seconds ...” said Borg simply when he broke the half-mile record in Sydney. There was no over-confidence in his voice. He made a statement of his programme. Borg regards every race deliberately. Everywhere, Australians wondered at his etxencled show of form. It was no brief show of brilliance. Borg is too systematic to be erratic. In Australia he shone in the sprints, equalling dash records in several instances. Then again, he broke his own quarter mile record, and. this will hearten Aucklanders, who want to see Borg at his best, over this distance. GREATEST SWIMMER? Is Borg better than the American, Johnnie Weismuller? After his extraordinary success this season in Australia, Borg may be regarded as the world’s greatest swimmer. lie is a redoubtable performer over the sprints before he is on the distance. where all the important world records are his. Borg has plentiful reasons for being considered the world’s greatest. For sheer determination of purpose in his swimming he ,cands alone. Borg claims that the greatest puce in swimming is obtained by pulling straight through with the arms. Mis style will be studied eagerly in Auckland. and it is probable that there will be a tendency to follow Borg. Borg keeps his head high and breathes on both sides of his action. His arm action is crisp, and apparently he has no time to relax. He has a high elbowarch and does not pull right back past the hips. Borg uses his shoulders without rolling a great deal. His head alone turns slightly. Borg’s leg action is distinctive. It consists of four beats to a cycle. The big scissor kick is made with the left leg at the catch of

the right arm. and lie reverses the order for a second powerful kick. Between the two kicks, Borg puts in minor “flutters.” His feet break the water. Turning, starting and judgment see the Swede at his best. Borg says that it is not fair to his wife to continue travelling and swimming. He wants to take up coaching in California. He says that he will become professional before next Olympic Games at Los Angeles. Borg has represented Sweden at three Olympiads.