Cairns Post (Qld. : 1909 - 1954)(about) |
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Tuesday 10 March 1914
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Swimming Extraordinary
FANNY DURACK'S WONDERFUL
SWIM.
Most of the superlative expressions in the natatorial lexicon have been applied to Miss Fanny Durack at one time or another during her bril- liant career as a competitive swim- mer. But as her latest exploit trans- cends any of her other doughty deeds in the element, it is hard indeed to find fitting terms in which to des-
cribe it.
The distances over which she has distinguished herself most in the past have ranged from 50 yards to 300metres. Her performances have made these of her sex pale into in- significance, as daylight doth a lamp. Probably owing to the fact that she is a "crawl" stroke ex- ponent, which method of propulsion is undoubtedly more fatiguing than the "trudgeon" for long swims, or may be perhaps because the Inter- national Swimming Federation does not at present take cognisance of ef- forts on the part of ladies beyond 300 metres, and seldom hears of Miss Durack attempting nothing be- yond the distance referred to.
Miss Durack's triumphs at the Stockholm Olympic Games in 1012, in addition to her extraordinary feats in the water both before and since, have prepared the public mind to expect t0 hear of her periodically performing unusual achievements ; but despite this, followers of the sport in general were made gasp
with astonishment by an accom- plishment for which she was respon- sible at the Domain Baths on Mon- day night.
Not so many years ago the world marvelled to learn that a man had negotiated a mile in open water by means of the supposedly exhausting
"crawl." And even to this day for
an individual to utilise it for such a distance, no matter how slowly, is regarded as exhibiting great power of stamina and endurance.
Therefore, well might we confess to being surprised, in a sense of ad- miration, to be acquainted with the fact that a young Amazon had not only employed the "crawl" for 16 lengths (each 110yds) of the big Domain Baths, but in doing so had
moved at such a rate of speed as to
enable her to complete her task in 52 seconds under the standard set by the N.S.W. Swimming Associa- tion for men----that is to say, i"
26min. 8sec. Many State champion-
ships have been won by male com- petitors in slower time. Needless to
say, it easily constitutes a world's record for a member of her sex. The previous best was Miss Mabel Flet- cher's (Eng.) 31min. 8 l-5secs. In- cidentally Miss Durack established new figures f0r other recognised in- termediate distances---- viz., 440yds, 6min. 17sec. ; 880yds, 12min. 52 sec. ; and 1320yds, 19min. 31sec. She thus becomes possessed of all world's rec0rds from 50 yards up- wards, the others being : 50yds, 29 sec. ; 75yds, 49 4-5sec. ; 100yds, 1 min. 6sec; ; 100 metres, 1 min. 17 sec.; 220yds, 2min. 59sec.; 300yds.
4min. 12sec. ; 300 metres, 4min. 33
3-5sec.
All the Regulations governing the
making" of records were strictly complied with. Three watches were used to clock the swim ; they were in the hands of Miss K. Stopee, Miss Marshall, and Miss Buff. Mr. H. Hellings, bath manager, als0 con- firms the accuracy of the timing.