1960-08-25 — Page 9

Page

THE CHINA MAIL, THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 1960.

CONTINUING THE CHINA MAIL'S SPECIAL SERIES ON THE OLYMPICS

the muscle

Speed? It's in the

AND IT HASN'T IMPROVED

IN A HUNDRED YEARS

Says SIR ADOLPHE ABRAHAMS in an interview

with JOHN COTTRELL

Why

JOHN COTTRELL: Pure recorda broken so frequent-

ly nowadays?

Sir ADOLPHE ABRA- HAMS: There are two 2000d reasons: (1) the improvement in

OLYMPIC QUIZ

1. Which member of the British peerage won the 400 metres hurdles in 1928?

2. In the 1948 Olympic Games the U.S.A won all the men's events in one particular Sport: The spurt?

(2) the training technique.

Increase In comTM enormous petition throughout the world. With Increasing competition you ure bound to have records.

J.C.: Where do you set the limit in record-breaking? For Insiosice, ta 3 us 30 about the ultimate for the mile?

Recy

class Lini 4. Would Jesse Owens as on anotorpion! freak since a long jump of 1435 in the oldest of all world records?

A.A.: No, not in my inter- pretation of the word. He dominated in his time but not so very much more than sorpe other coloured men. My brother (Harold) thinks his long jump record will be broken. Remem- A. A. My impression Rs 1 physiologist as well un an ber Owens had this great ad- athlete is that future records vantage; you need to be a great will be of only 1 fractional sprinter to be a great long character. I shall be surprised | jumper. if two, seconds are knocked off the present mile record (3 min. 54.5 sec.). To create a record everything must be like that

must favourable. The athlete

be in perfect condition; he must vun in the very best style all the time; atmospheric conditions must be iden1,

J. C.

think that and the mile. I presume you think we have already reached the limit in the 100 yards,

70%

4

Reason

Here

13

man

Sir Adolphe Abrahams, a Harley Street specialist, is the world's leading authority on the medical aspect of athletics.

Born in South Africa in 1883, he was the first doctor to be appointed Honorary Medical Officer to the Amateur Athletic Association and went with the British team to the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm. He was sub- sequently elected Honorary Medical Adviser to the International Athletic Board and regularly accompanied teams to Olympics and international meetings.

He is a former athlete himself, and his brother, Harold Abrahams, in the only European to have won an Olymple sprint title the 100 metres in the 1924 Games.

·

Here, in these exclusive interviews with John Cottrell, Sir Adolphe dis cusses why athletics records are broken so frequently; the limit to mon's spood and endurance; the best training methods; how for drugs can improve perfor monces; whether an athlete can damage his heart; the unnecessary prejudice against women in athletics.

He gives some surprising views on the basic spood of sprintare➡"it hasn't improved in 100 years"; women athletes "They could run a marathon"; and the greatest athletes "The greatest athlete of all time was W. G. George."

.C. Who has impressed you with their will-to-win?

the majority of athletes who are able to put out their maximum capacity on almost any occasion. ‚‚Â : M ̧ I' may say no, my When you realize the enormous own brother (Harold), in Paris | amount o work man put into in 1924. He was meeting four training, there is something Jim top Americans in the final of to be and for their view. the 100 meires, but he expecled Peters, for example, relinquish- to win in his heart of hearts and ed only a fortnight a year to I am perfectly sure that is why take a holiday with his wife, he dominated on that ocension, otherwise he would have run

scientific application, per Herb Elliott has become the world's greatest miler by the natural. "approach. mean that Elliott's way is the better?

all the

system

10

water; and, provided there was about it, veremony onough athletes have frequently assured pue that they felt quite different. Hypnosis will only work in the Purges- same way, through tive value. But I would never 11 13ink of trying out such method in competition.

very

U.S. proposal

rejected at FINA meeting

Rome, Aug. 24.

The International Swimming Federation (FINA) meeting here today rejected a United States re- solution, backed by the other big swimming countries Japan and Australia, recommending that any country could be represented by three instead of two swimmers in each Olympic event if they had clocked a fixed minimum time over the distance concorned.

The US. resolution stipulated The International Swimming. that cacht country should have Federation also decided today to

approve the right to enter one swimuner

The candidatures for in each Olympic event nad two membership of Formosa. French others if all three had elovkasi Somaliland, the United Arab the axed minimuîn time.-

| Republic, the British West In- Rice and The present ruling stipujates | cites, Iraq, Puerto that each country, can be Rhodesia. represented by iwo awkimmers La cach event irrespective of timings and this rating was upheld by 48 votes to 24.

Heated debate

posal was heated.

The Soviet, Palish und Czech delegates then challenged the udmission of Formosk but their opposition was quashed by chairman Jan De Vries, after a

Chinese Nationalist delegate had criticised the Communist coun-

IUANDOUYTO

on

Debate on the American pro-tries for introducing a political assembly which should be solely discuss ing sports isves.--AFP.

Max Ritter, speaking for the

J.C.; So winch prestige la attached to winning these days that there seems a danger of drugs being taken however un

US, stressed thin his detegn sporting it may be.

un's proposal was aimed at Im- A. A. 1 quite agree. But

proving swimming standards. the Americans have "Inveighed

Kitaro Abe if Japan and against such drugs very,

Berge Philips of Australia strongly and I can guarantee as

pro- Made or born?

far as Britain is concerned that supported the American nobody has. over used drugs in prsul. Other countries pointed nut however, that it would pre- J. C. With

ad that sense. However, I think it

the chances of small. Pantages of modern science, can is justifiable to help athletes by Judice a champion athlete be Thade? suggestion. Just as a man may countries at the Olympics. The

Jump over a five barred gate proposal was then rejected.

behind Or do they have to be born?

bull A. A.

there is n Generally speaking, when ink they have to be born. him you can never

upon mystery of you can draw When you make a anything and talk learnedly on emergency. the selentific side, it must make a strong appeal to people. But I bellové it is a simple matter. There are naturally wonderful

J.C. The difficulty born athletes, geniuses in their where to draw the due in legis- way, just as there are gentises lating against various drips of

alight que powerful effect

askel mentally.

A. A.: I J.C.: How for can setentumcially to lay down what is u vene sort of muut Roger wus fic aids such as himosis and drug. I said: "How can you ask matches included:

per- such a question? Is at drugs improve athletic beaten

Games Helsinki in 1952 before he left. Anything which has rhubarb? That is as much

objection to taking a England. They had arranged th

saggistible character drug as anything else," so that he had too high Progamme

Doca

It soumr, too, as we can in-365 days a year and 360 in a flumec the osition tele- Leap Year. And his

got bore fruit. You have J.C.: Is

any apecific pathically. Lord Burghley (now

Marquess of Exeter) was very build up the body by work and medical reason why one much the same at Amsterdam the process is really a whole- can run faster than another?

In 1928. And I think Douglas time occupation. A. A.: 11 depends ever i Lowe too in the 800 metres, I much ou the quality of the

would

have p confidently muscle, not so much on

There is what is called money on those people to win, build

Bonnlater muscle and a

J.C.: Roger viscosity

broke the four-minute barrier" with a low viscosity can move more quickly. I am always ad- by

that we ought vocnuing

to examine the muscles more of Different matter

very fast sprinters. Take a bit A. A.: That's very dif- of muscle out-It Is not very With the mile much of an operation and see ferent matter." you bring in possibillies of Im-if the biochemists can provements training and something peculiar certain technical mailera such chemistry of the muscle. Of A.A. It depends. 1 know us optimal speeds; we profit by course, the nervous systean

to Roger Bannister had very fixed people's mistakes and dis- coincs into it; in regard

Ideas flunt the body was capable Dillard, win coveries. But in the 100 yards rauldity of contraction. If you ner of the 100 metres you are dealing with a natural can get in one extra stride of of the most intense efforts only

my about

once or twlee perhaps in seven foot, or even capacity, sheer speed. Ini in

the Jack Lovelock had 1948, was a world

bit shorter,, in 100 yards, it record holder in anotherį

makes all the difference. event: Which event?

J. C.: How great a part fices The will-to-win play in athletic performances?-

3. Which field

event has

been won by an Ameri- can competitor in every modern Olympics to date?

4. Harrison

have

in

opinion that hus not altered in the last hundred years, ever Truc. since times were taken, there are a huge number of per- these people who do very dne

Ind the in

a

SEKTIC

Fixed ideas

241

The

thi

Jomitances,

tell what

for

an

Difficulty

Was once

Baseball results

New York, Ang. 24. Results of today's baseball

there any

AMERICAN LEAGUE

dose of

The

H R

E

Chicago New York

0

your common

5. What

formances today, but I think athletes in common: there was never a foster rung

A. A. The will-to-win to run three times instead of twice will help. 7 have done it over only answer I could give was that NATIONAL LEAGUE Paavo Nurmi, Juckner than Jackie Donaldron.

I am perfectly and over again with the most you must use

Pittsburgh a tremendous asset. There are us lie expected. I Lovelock, Josey Barthel ran against him in the Army in some people who are unbeatable sure that that complication up-bsurdly simple medicaments. I sense about drugs, I do not see

OL any riven "drugs"

harm in giving a HileChicago the First War-lhere was not necessarily because they are get him by its influence on the have never and Ron Delaney?

as soporifle, a ittle pill, distinction then between baiter than their opponents but nervous system. Others too have the type usually thought of

little nervous youngster who cannot Cincinnati given a (Answers Tomorrow)

arvaleur and professional and herause they cannot believe they believed they can reach a peak "dope." I have 1 never sow anything more | are going to be beaten.

only once or twice a year but I peppermint water, bicarbonate sleep the night before his con- San Francisco beautiful than his movement

sodo, or, even sugar, and 'test. don't think I would apply to of

Answers to Tuesday's „Olympic Quiz

1. E. H. Flack.

2. Twice-1908, 1048.

3. London 1908. Events were Lawn Tennis, Archery and Skating,

4. Johnny Welssmuller,

5. Berlin 1936.

.

J. C.: So you think supreme sprinters are no farter, but that they possibly have an f- proved starting technique,

Yes, that of Co A. A. operates but generally speaking I do not think they are ABY faster. There again, we may discover an anatomical frenk who could improve the record. An anatomical freak is likeliest among the coloured people. They possess a special capacity for speed, 1 think it is because of the character of their muscles and perhaps nervous system.

Sports Diary

TODAY

Bowls

Colony Men's Open Biggles jogmi- finnis & Recreio, 6.20

Ladies Falt semi-finals at KBGC, ICFC, 5.20 pen.

Tennis

LBC Tournament: Men's Doubles Open,

Men's Armstrong Cup, Doubles Hrep. Ladies' Doubles Hopp, Men's Heop login, 830 pm.

L

Lot

FELLOW, DID YOU SEE

10

17

10

(13 innings)

39

4 13

-AP

Four D. Jones THE PORTRAIT OF JONES HAS

DONE A BUNK, LEAVING JORES SACRE BLEU! GONE! I SAY, VINCENT, DEAR YES, HE WENT BY MADDOCKS TO STUDY A BLANK CANVAS

ARE

YOU TRYIN' TO BE FUNNY,

IKABOD? THERE'S

NOTHING HERE,

NOTHING?

YOU'RE KIDDING

OF COURSE

I'VE DONE IT AGAIN, BUT WHERE DID IT GO TO?.

YOU MEAN I'VE COME TO

LIFE

A FOUR D. JONES GO

BY HERE?

OUT INTO THE

STREET

WHY?

CHESS

by LEONARD BARDEN

In one of the shortest games of the recent Boyner tourna~ ̈ment, -a former British cham- plan lost with the white piecas In only 17 mOVES. Here's how It happened (Wade v Mardle), 1 P-K1 P-K4: 3 Kt-KBJ. KL 083: 3 B-KIS, P-QRS: 1 B-M. KLB); 5 Castles, EtxP: 4 P_QI,_P–QKI Z BK13. PC: 8 PXF. B-K 9 P-93 BQBA: 19 Q-Q3,

· PBS; 11 PXP, 4xP: 12 BXP too risky: 12 SK3 is sounder), Castles QR: 13 BXB ah. QxB: 14 Q-K2, KR-KI;- 15 B-K3. KixKBP (Winnlog whatever White material

does): 18 RxKt. QxB. 17 QXQ. R-Q8-chl; White rosigns, for now he is mated. Solution No. 1977; 1. QxKP fthreat 2 0-813), XL-B8: 2 Q-K2 or B-85; 2 QXB, or | RxQ: 2 Kix R... or E "ch; z Etx B, or Kt-K5; 2 B×BP, or P-B5: 2 BX RP.

„topion Ezovem Zářytos, ·

SHEAFFER'S

EMPERLAT. TAZE

Sheaffer quality features

moderate

pricis

Olympic Games Dramatize

World Confidence

in Omega Precision

The Olympic Committee has such implicit faith in the Omega split-second accuracy that it has once again entrusted Omega with the responsibility of timing the

1960 OLYMPIC GAMES AT ROMË

The presence of Omega timers at the Olympic Games and other newa-making sports events is dramatic proof of the confidence Omega precision commanda throughout the world.

FERDINAND RRRING

1

NANCY

NANCY... WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH REFRESHMENTS

FOR ALL THE KIDS

I'LL FIX THAT

BRICK BRADFORD

WALTIMETER 13 LAADIO WITH

MATERIAL, POR A SECOND TRIP SID SPACE CHAWATEERESTÉPING

THE NEW MEN

ARE ABOA DROHASTL

GO GO!

BUSHMILKMATO

OKAY, EVERYBODY--- IT'S TIME TO

UNMASK

100

A FEW MINUTES LATER THE TIME-TOP IS ON ITS WAY TOWARD THE PARTLY. ZULT CICE PLATFORMUL

By Mik

By Ernie Bushmiler

THERE GO THE

UNINVITED

ONES

By Paul Norrls

LATER, AS THEY NEAR THE PLATFORM...

PR.CASTLANG

THERE'S SOME

THING WRONG

THERE!

THE

AND

OPEN

BIGN

SWIRLANG ร

Ak! That Food! That Bervice!

That Sarissair!

SÜSSAIR

THE AL OF VATAN

Just the weather for Rowntree's

JELLIES

The Fastest Film

in the

World!

Sole Agenter OMTIS LTD.

OMEGA OMETO

44, Jedina House, Hong Kong, Yal., 17351

7A37

ILFORD