In last month's issue of the “N.Z.Railways Magazine” reference was made to the success of Malcolm Champion, the first New Zealand representative to win an Olympic gold medal. Unable to gain selection in the Auckland team for the New Zealand championships to be held in Christchurch, Champion managed to get a trip to Wellington on the Hinemoa and arrived in the Capital City in time to attend a carnival at Thorndon Baths.

Champion, a swimming enthusiast as well as competitive swimmer— and there is a difference, you know —strolled along and paid his shilling to have a look. His friend off the ship let it be known that Champion was a great swimmer and before he knew what had happened he was invited to take part in the trials. This he did, and with so much success that he was persuaded to go to Christchurch as a member of the Wellington team. It was just as well he decided to do this, as his club in Auckland was not affiliated, and had he gone direct to Chistchurch he would not have been allowed to swim. Instead he linked up with a Wellington Club and was included in the Wellington team.

What did he do at this meeting? Rather what didn't he do! He won every event from 100 yards to the one mile—defeating the Auckland representative miler, George Tyler, in the easiest manner. What is more, he established New Zealand records in all events, and his time for the mile stood until Dave Lindsay, another great alldistance man, broke it a few years ago. But Champion's success and fast times were even more remarkable because at that time he could neither start properly nor turn correctly. At the start of each race he used to jump in, and readers will realise that the present dive start means as much as a second to many successful swimmers in 100 yards. His method of turning was neither more nor less than a flounder—totally different from the scientific methods now used even by school children. It was not until Doug. Stewart, an old representative footballer, put in many hours coaching him that Champion mastered the starting and turning technique.

The success which came so sensationally to Champion did not go to his head, and although he maintained his position as New Zealand's best swimmer he continued to train with the aim to improve not only his pace but his style. He had many trips to Australia but, strangely enough, never showed his true form over there. Accustomed to taking and receiving advice from a trainer he could not adjust himself to the different conditions across the Tasman. It would be fairly safe to state that Champion was one of New Zealand's most widelytravelled athletes. That is, an athlete officially representing New Zealand. “Buster” Andrews, the tennis player, would probably rank as The most widely-travelled athlete, but his travels have not been when representing New Zealand.

In 1911 Champion represented New Zealand at the first Empire Games meeting—held at the time of the Coronation of King George the Fifth. The swimming events were held at the Crystal Palace lake and practically every country in the British Empire sent representatives. The New Zealander won the half-mile and five-mile swimming races, and was easily winning the biggest race of the carnival—the one mile—when he took cramp near the finish and had to be assisted from the water.

The following year saw Champion selected as a member of the Australasian team to the Olympic Games at Stockholm. At that time New Zealand did not have separate affiliation with the International Olympic Games Federation, and New Zealanders competed in the Australasian team. In the 1,500 metres free-style, Champion reached the final but did not succeed in winning a medal, retiring at 800 metres. In the 800 metres relay, in which Healey, Champion, Boardman and Hardwick represented Australasia, he helped to win first place, thus becoming the first New Zealander to score an Olympic gold medal. This race was swum in 10 : 11 1/5, an Olympic record.

Returning to New Zealand, Champion competed until 1914, when he definitely retired. His last championship meeting was at Blenheim where he was once more successful.

Retiring from active competition did not mean any loss of interest in the sport, and Champion soon earned for himself the reputation of being one of New Zealand's greatest swimming coaches. It is not every champion who has the ability to impart information to other swimmers, but Champion proved equal as a coach to what he had been as a competitor. With Professor Olds, late of Otago—who died about a year ago in America, where he had built up a great reputation in swimming circles—Champion did much to raise the standard of swimming in New Zealand. His own daughter, Edna Champion, proved to be one of New Zealand's stars of the water and a record holder, while I have vivid recollections of Pauline Hoeft, at one time holder of the world's record for 150 yards, telling me how he had page 62 assisted her to improve her natural style. Champion never altered the style of a swimmer—but he did endeavour to improve on that style.

Champion's successes in New Zealand swimming championships include:

100 yards—1901, 1912, 1913, 1914. Best championship time of 1 min. 1 sec.

220 yards—1901, 1908, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914. Best championship time of 2 min. 30 secs.

440 yards—1901, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914. Best championship time of 5 min. 40 secs.

880 yards—1901, 1908, 1911, 1912, 1913, 19914.

One Mile—1901, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914.

N.Z.'s Olympic Team.

Based on the only method of assessing the standard of New Zealand athletes—a comparison with the best times recorded overseas during the current track and field season—it must be admitted that the runners chosen to represent New Zealand at the Olympic Games in Berlin next August rank on a very high plane. J. E. Lovelock (former holder of the one mile world's record and present champion miler of the British Empire), V. P. Boot (holder of the 880 yards and one mile N.Z.A.A.A. championships and credited with records, yet to be approved, for the 880 yards and 1,000 yards), and C. H. Matthews (New Zealand three miles champion and holder of the 2 miles record, 3 miles record, yet to be passed, and Australian record holder for 3,000 metres), will represent the Dominion in running events. A quick run over the best times set by Boot and Matthews in comparison with overseas performances will prove of interest.

Boot's best time for 880 yards is 1 min. 53 2/5 sec. Compare this with the best times recorded in 1935: Belgium, 1:56 1/5; Finland, 1:53 3/10; France, 1:55; Germany, 1:54 1/10; Great Britain, 1:53 3/10; Hungary, 1:54 2/5; Italy, 1:53; Norway, 1:52 9/10; Poland, 1:52 2/5; Sweden, 1:54 1/10; Switzerland, 1:58 4/5; United States, 1:52. The best time in Europe was 1 min. 52 2/5 secs., and the best in the world was 1 min. 52 secs. All the times listed above were made on cinder tracks whereas Boot's run was made on a grass track at Lancaster Park under adverse conditions. On a basis of times Boot must go close to scoring high points in the final of the 800 metres. Lack of experience in good class may prove a big handicap, but his efforts in New Zealand prove him to be possessed of a “fighting heart,” and he will not disgrace his country. Boot's half-mile in 1:54 4/5 secs, at the New Zealand University championship meeting, held in Wellington on Easter Monday, was the most brilliant run ever made in Wellington.

C. H. Matthews is at his best over the three miles course and will concentrate on the 5,000 metres at Berlin. Matthews has covered three miles in 14: 17 3/5 in Christchurch, and a comparison of that run with the times made at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles reveals that it approximates time equal to that better than the fourth man returned in the final. But the tracks at Los Angeles were “super” and not likely to be equalled outside the State of California where climatic conditions were perfect. So we fall back on the “Best Athletic Performances of 1935” to see how Matthews measures up when faced with worldclass. The best times for the three miles are: Belgium, 14:39 1/5; Finland, 14:4 4/5; France, 14:25 1/10; Germany, 14:25 7/10; Great Britain, 14:26 3/5; Hungary, 14:24; Italy, 14:24 2/5; Norway, 14:16 3/10; Poland, 14:51 2/5; Sweden, 14:12 3/10; Switzerland, 15:0; United States, no performances. The best time returned in Europe was 14 min. 4 4/5 secs. This was also the best time recorded in the world. It is estimated that a grass track is from three to four seconds slower than a cinder track over the one mile, and if such an estimation is to carry any weight it is apparent that Matthews's run of 14: 17 3/5 for the three miles would approximate 14:6 on a cinder track! He Must be given a chance at the Games.

G. R. Giles, Canterbury cyclist, is another top-class performer. When he won the 1,000 metres sprint championship this year he was timed to do 12 3/5 secs. over the last furlong. The watches were started as the leading man passed the furlong mark and stopped when the winner passed the post. Giles was several yards behind the leader at the furlong, but flashed over the finishing line a good winner in time equalling that returned by Van Egmond, winner of the Olympic sprint in 1932. It was the cycling sensation of the year when Giles was not nominated for the Olympic team, but to the credit of members of the executive of the New Zealand Amateur Cycling Association the decision was revoked when the true merit of Giles's ride was pointed out.

Three boxers—T. Arbuthnot, C. Gordon and N. Fisher—will complete the team. The boxers have to be taken on trust, as there are no means of ascertaining their comparative standards as in the case of swimmers, cyclists and runners, but the New Zealand Boxing Association has indicated its confidence in them to do well. New Zealand boxers have not had much success at Olympic Games in the past although it is a boxer— Ted Morgan—who has won the only Individual gold medal to come to New Zealand. Of the six boxers to fight for New Zealand at Olympic tournaments only one has qualified to fight in the second round. C. Purdy, A. Cleverley, H. Thomas, R. Purdie, and A. S. Lowe were all defeated in the first matches! It has been claimed that the standard of judging is not favourable to New Zealand boxers— that fighters are encouraged instead of boxers—so, unless the method of judging is to be different this year, our boxers will be fighting under a handicap.