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Salient: An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria University Wellington. Vol. 24, No. 1. 1961
Moans from Moens
Moans from Moens
Ever since this colourful athlete landed in New Zealand, papers have been publicising his criticisms of some quaint Kiwi customs. He was first reported as saying he was upset by the food, which was too heavy and greasy. That he found New Zealand food, as presented in hotels, unsuited to his tastes is not surprising, considering his professed liking of "fresh fruit and vegetables." However, this claim of unsuited food was taken in some quarters to be the excuse of a beaten athlete. Nothing can really be stated for or against the case, as Mr Moens has left us, and any recriminations will be bandied about among the hotels, but let us not be too harsh on him as the quality of the food an athlete gets when he is competing is of paramount importance, and undoubtedly Mr Moens was hot eating food he was used to.
However, this is merely a minor point which pales in comparison with his next attack. He criticised Snell. Or more correctly, he criticised Snell's training methods. Now Snell, as one of New Zealand's track immortals (no one will deny him that), is beyond criticism and Moens had committed blasphemy in saying that to train with miles of hard roadwork was absolutely crazy by Continental standards. He maintains that short, forceful periods of training are sufficient.
Now the immediate reaction was that Snell is the reigning Olympic champion, hence his training methods are sacrosanct, and anyway if Moens and his Continental cobbers took a leaf out of Snell's notebook, they might do better. Refer to Sports Post of February 11, 1961, for elaboration.
Consider the Facts
Consider the facts. Firstly Snell is built much more heavily than Moens, and as it is an accepted fact that a heavier athlete needs more training than another who is lighter, then perhaps both men are right in their training methods, and Moens was wrong to criticise Snell.
Should Snell develop into a class miler, he will undoubtedly be one of the most powerfully built in the history of the race, and applying the principle mentioned previously he will have to train relatively hard than Lovelock did in his time, not only because of the faster times, although Snell has not yet beaten Lovelock's best.
Secondly, Moens is the world record holder, and has been since 1955. Now in this day and age, a world record that is 6 years old is a rarity indeed and should not be brushed off lightly. Besides this however, he is now 30, and for a man to foot it with International 800m. men for as long as he has is nothing short of marvellous. He was a not-so-far-away second to Snell in the Rome Olympics, remember. And all this with his training methods almost diametrically opposed to Snell's.
So what does it show. Merely the old meat and poison theory in a not so new guise. Besides which Snell's methods are by no means unknown in Europe. Remember the legendary Emil Zatopek and his training feats.
—B.D.