Part 4
Probably no other form of exercise or competitive sport among women and girls has advanced so rapidly in the United States as that of swimming, and with the recognition of women swimmers by registration in the Amateur Athletic Union, contests and championship events have been held in various cities throughout the United States, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, with the result that our women swimmers are rapidly coming to the front in speed swimming, and their records at various distances are very close to the best world’s marks for those of their sex.
Women make better swimmers than men, when equally skilled in the art, and while they do not quite approach the speed times of the men, because of the difference in muscular strength and power, they are more graceful than men in the water, practice more frequently, make less fuss about it, and get a lot of physical benefit from their favorite pastime.
A woman, being of lighter bony structure, with more flesh than a man in proportion to her size and weight, and with a different physical formation of body, gets a better equipoise in the water, with the result that most all women float naturally; in fact, after they learn to swim, very few of them have to make any effort to stay on top of the water, which gives them a confidence not usually seen among men swimmers; and, as nature has endowed them with a much better circulation than men, they are able to stay in the water and stand a lower temperature than the opposite sex without getting chilled.
Miss Olga Dorfner of the Philadelphia Turngemeinde has shown herself to be the fastest short-distance speed swimmer in this country in contests up to 220 yards, at which distances she has defeated all comers, and she holds the American records over these routes. She swims an excellent crawl stroke, and the following times, most of them American records for women, shows her top class as a sprint swimmer: 40 yards, 22 seconds; 50 yards, 29 seconds; 60 yards, 39 seconds; 80 yards, 53 seconds; 100 yards, 1 minute 8 4-5 seconds; 220 yards, 3 minutes 5 1-5 seconds.
Miss Claire Galligan, of New Rochelle, is the best middle distance swimmer among our girls, having defeated all the other aspiring contestants in races over 220 yards. Miss Galligan has swam 100 yards in 1 minute 9 seconds; 220 yards in 3 minutes 4 1-5 seconds; 440 yards in 7 minutes 6 3-5 seconds; half mile in 15 minutes 15 2-5 seconds, and one mile in 31 minutes 19 3-5 seconds. She uses a four-beat Trudgeon-crawl stroke, and is almost certain to break many more women’s swimming records, as she is increasing in speed all the time.
Gertrude Artelt, Philadelphia Turngemeinde, is coming on fast at sprint swimming, having now a record of 1 minute 13 2-5 seconds for 100 yards, while her team-mate, Elizabeth Becker, from the same organization, has covered 220 yards in a race in 3 minutes 13 1-5 seconds, with very fast times for the shorter distances.
Bessie Ryan of the First Regiment Swimming Pool, Philadelphia, is a coming fast swimmer who invariably wins a prize every time she competes. Her 100 yards time is 1 minute 15 seconds, her 220 yards 3 minutes 35 seconds, and all this in her first year of competition.
Florence McLaughlin of the First Regiment Swimming Pool, Philadelphia, was the most remarkable juvenile swimmer and diver in this country and her many records and prizes over all distances stamp her as a great swimmer.
Miss Anna C. Kean of Lansdowne, Pa., swam from Ocean City to Atlantic City, 12 miles in the sea, August 21, 1916, in 8 hours and 28 minutes, and on September 18, 1916, swam 26 miles in the Delaware River in 11 hours 8 minutes 41 3-5 seconds, this performance being the longest swim ever made by a woman in the world under same conditions.
Modern Methods of Life-Saving
It is often remarked by those who have a very limited knowledge of swimming matters, that it is the good swimmer who gets drowned. This is a very erroneous impression and one that will not bear investigation.
It is the fellow who thinks he is a good swimmer and who usually tries some fool-hardy stunt which he is not competent to undertake, who loses his life. Besides, this sort of chap may be a fair swimmer, but he does not get any practice, and probably overeats before going into the water, and goes far out beyond his depth, forgetting that he has to come back again, and when his muscles and wind, which are not accustomed to the extra tax, give out, loses his head, gulps a big shipment of water, and then the excitement strangles him and brings on heart-failure and he is gone for good. He is not literally drowned, he is shocked to death, for I mean to say it, and most medical men and other experts competent to judge will bear out my statement when I tell you that there are very few people drowned in the water, and that most of the deaths occur from heart-failure, as I have stated above, while the fact that many of the drowning cases in the surf are found floating face down, show that the shock has closed up the epiglottis, and no water has penetrated the stomach or lungs.
But until everyone who attends school is taught to swim and be competent to take care of themselves in the water under all conditions, life-saving must be part of the educational work of swimming, in fact, made a strong feature of natatorial instruction; therefore, it behooves the skilled swimmer to learn the best ways to approach a person in the water who may need help, and better still, to know how to release one’s self from the death-grip of a drowning person.
The chief don’t that I would emphasize is that, unless you are a good swimmer yourself, and know how to keep cool in times of excitement such as when a boat overturns, or some one is suddenly precipitated in the water, you had better not attempt a rescue, for, while it is very commendable to be a hero, unless you know what you are about, two people will lose their lives instead of one. However, if you are cool, and can swim well, to approach a person in the right way, break any hold they may take on you, and tow them into shore and out of danger, is but a simple task, although if you have to go quite a distance, it may tire you a lot, but you will have that glorious satisfaction of having saved a life of a fellow brother.
In attempting a rescue, never approach a person from in front, if you can possibly avoid it, and you invariably can, unless you are in a boat with them and you are suddenly thrown in the water, and coming up near someone they may grasp you before you have time to get back of them. Always get back of them and then it will be easy to grasp them by the various holds that are herein described, and by telling them to keep cool, easily tow them to shore.
The most likely grip to be taken by the drowning person is for them to grasp you by the wrists, if in front of them. This is a very easy hold to break, for, by turning your elbows up suddenly and your hands down and outward, they will have to release because they have no clutch on you but the thumb-hold. After effecting the releases, you can turn the person around, so you will be back of them and then bring them in by the holds here explained and illustrated.
A most dangerous hold is for the person to grasp you around the neck with both arms, and clutching you tight, draw you very close to them in a strangle-hold. When this hold is taken, you must put your right arm under their left shoulder, placing your thumb and forefinger tightly over their nose and shutting off the wind, while you press your left hand against his back, drawing him to you and pushing his head back. Be strong and rough about it if necessary, as you will not hurt him, and very soon, because he cannot get his breath, he will release his hold, and then you must turn him around quickly on his back and the rest will be easy, especially if you assure him that there is no danger if he will not try to struggle.
Another hold that looks as if it might be very hard to break is the back strangle-hold, where the excited one grasps you from behind around the neck with both arms. You must at once take hold of both of his hands with your hands, throw your head back with all the force you can, knocking him a hard blow on the nose with the back of your head, and then by ducking your head down under water, you will be able to get free, but you must keep hold of one of his hands in order to turn him around as in the other holds, in order not to lose your grip so you can tow him to safety.
Towing the subject to shore, of course, is much easier than breaking the holds. One of the very easy methods is to grasp the person by the hair of the head, unless he be bald, and as the body is easy to carry this way and floats well, you can use both your lower limbs and one arm to tow him to shore or to the upturned boat or canoe, if the latter is near, for it is not wise to go further than necessary, for someone will be very apt to come to your assistance if you hold on to the craft, and numerous cases are on record of the rescuer becoming exhausted when having to carry a person very far.
If you are swimming with a friend or near another person who gets tired, it is the easiest thing in the world to help him, for all you have to do is to ask him to place his forefingers of both hands upon your shoulders, he lying on his back, his feet kept close together and between your legs, and then you swim the breast stroke, and as you have the use of all your limbs, the person will be very easy to carry for a long distance, providing you swim easy and slowly and do not try to hurry.
Another method of carrying is by the neck and arm hold, where you turn the person on their side, grasping them with one arm around and under the neck and over their shoulder, to prevent them from struggling, and you can then swim on your side, using one arm under water and getting a side-stroke kick, having the person entirely under your control, in a case where he might be struggling to release himself.
More people’s lives are now saved annually than at any time before in the world’s history, on account of the advanced ideas now in vogue in connection with the resuscitation of the apparently drowned, and with the latest and best method now used, called the Schaefer method, it is easier to bring the person who is recovered from the water, when not submerged too long, back again to life by producing artificial respiration, and restoring circulation, if life is not already extinct.
As soon as the person’s body is recovered, he is placed face down on the beach or some flat place, preferably with the head at the lowest point, in order that any water that may be in the stomach or lungs will be more readily gotten out. The face is turned to one side, the tongue pulled out and fastened by a rubber band, a string, or held out by an assistant, so it will stay out and not fall back again into the mouth and close up the passage-way. The hands are extended straight out beyond the head. The operator kneels down on one knee, grasps the sides of the body just below the lower ribs, making pressure steadily and firmly inwards and upwards, and releasing suddenly, the idea being to make the lungs work something like a rubber ball would act after pressure and on sudden release, or in other words producing an artificial gasp, for the purpose of bringing back respiration, for when this is accomplished, the circulation will be restored, and by keeping the patient warm and rubbing the limbs you will be able to bring the apparently dead back to life.
The work of the operator must not be too quickly done, but timed in keeping with your own or natural breathing, and it is better to have another person ready to take up the work when you are tired and thus work in relays, persisting for a long time if necessary, or until medical help can be obtained, for as long as there is life in the body, even though animation be suspended, there is hope.
HIGH DIVE.
Competitive Diving
The illustrations of various styles of diving have been taken from the prospectus issued for the benefit of intending competitors at the last Olympic Games, held at Stockholm, Sweden, in 1912. The text for the regulation of diving contests has been taken bodily from Rule 55 of the Amateur Athletic Union handbook.
The Amateur Athletic Union is the governing body of amateur athletic sport in the United States and every amateur swimmer who expects to enter in races or competition of any kind should be registered with his local association of the Amateur Athletic Union in order to prevent being disqualified.
Regulations for Diving Competitions
_Instruction to Judges._ In making awards for points for each dive the judges shall have regard to the character of the respective dive to be performed, and shall take into consideration: The manner of the dive (proper carriage, confidence and form), the force and speed of the dive, the entrance into the water and how the run or take-off is performed. When judging the carriage the individuality of the diver should be taken into consideration. The bearing in the air should be natural, easy, supple and graceful. When performing plain head dives, the head should be erect, back hollowed, legs closed with feet turned back, arms supple and fingers closed. The start should be made gracefully, with confidence and in a bold manner; in running dives the force and energy imparted should be considered. The entrance into the water should be made without splashing and with good carriage of the body.
For each dive each judge shall award points according to the following scale:
Points. Unsuccessful attempt 0 Bad dive 3 Fair dive 6 Good dive 8 Excellent dive 10
The judges may mark points and half points between those mentioned in the above scale, but 10 shall be the highest possible that can be awarded by any judge.
An unsuccessful attempt is one in which the competitor has failed to perform the dive nominated.
In all jackknife dives the competitor should enter the water within six feet from the take-off.
All head dives with arms by sides are ruled out.
Swallow and all other forms of straight front dives are to be considered as plain front dives.
In all somersaults or jackknife dives with twists, the somersaults or jackknives must be completed before twisting.
Under observation of the foregoing conditions and instructions in making their respective awards each judge shall:
a. Write down his points for each dive performed by each competitor according to the scale of points named in point table above.
b. The points awarded by him for each voluntary dive shall be multiplied by the points allowed for the degree of difficulty in each case as specified in the following diving tables.
c. After the total of points for each competitor has been found and checked as being correct, each judge shall place the competitors in the order in which they finish on his diving card. He shall give 1, to the diver scoring the greatest number of points; 2, to the diver scoring the second greatest number of points, etc. If two competitors score the same number of points their place numbers shall be added and each given one-half. For instance, if two competitors receive the same number of points, which is the second largest on the diving card of a judge, their place numbers 2 and 3 shall be added, and each competitor shall receive 2½, and the next following competitor shall receive the number 4. The place numbers given to the respective competitors by each of the judges shall be added together and the competitor showing the lowest total of place numbers shall be declared the winner. In case of a tie the point totals of all the judges shall be added together and the competitor whose total of points is greatest shall be the winner of the tie.
A list of voluntary dives shall be submitted by each competitor to the judges in writing before the beginning of the competition. Changes in the list of voluntary dives are not permitted. No competitor shall be permitted to repeat any of his dives.
The Referee must ascertain before the beginning of a competition that the depth of the water is sufficient to insure the safety of the competitors.
Competitions or exhibitions of diving from a greater height than 34 feet are prohibited.
The conditions of a diving competition, namely, height of board, number of voluntary and compulsory dives, and the character of the latter, must be stated in entry blanks.
_Fancy Diving from the Springboard._ The board shall have a length of 13 feet and shall be 20 inches wide and shall be of the usual elastic character.
In championship meetings the height of the board from the surface of the water shall be not less than 9 feet 6 inches, nor more than 11 feet.
The program for championships shall consist of the following dives: Running front dive, back dive, running forward jackknife, back jackknife and six voluntary dives selected from the following table:
Standing. Running. 1—Backward spring and forward dive (half twist) 1.4 2—Backward spring and backward dive (full twist) 2.0 3—Forward spring with half twist and backward dive 1.5 1.6 4—Forward spring with full twist and forward dive 1.8 1.8 5—Forward somersault 1.5 1.5 6—Forward 1½ somersault 1.6 1.6 7—Backward somersault 1.5 8—Backward 1½ somersault 2.2 9—Forward double somersault 1.9 1.9 10—Backward double somersault 1.9 1.9 11—Backward spring and forward somersault 1.7 12—Backward spring and 1½ forward somersault 2.0 13—Forward somersault with half twist 1.6 1.6 14—Forward 1½ somersault with half twist 2.2 2.2 15—Forward 2½ somersault 2.3 2.3 16—Flying Dutchman (forward spring with backward dive) 1.8 1.9 17—Flying Dutchman somersault (forward spring with backward somersault) 1.7 1.7 18—Flying Dutchman 1½ somersault 2.4 2.4 19—Flying Dutchman with half twist 1.7 1.7 20—Handstand dive 1.4 21—Handstand dive with somersault 1.7 22—Handspring dive with somersault 1.6 1.6 23—Jackknife forward 1.5 1.5 24—Jackknife backward 1.5 25—Jackknife forward with half twist and back dive 1.8 1.9 26—Jackknife forward with full twist and forward dive 2.2 2.2 27—Jackknife backward with half twist and forward dive 1.9 28—Jackknife backward with full twist and backward dive 2.3 29—Backward dive 1.5
In competitions where a lower board is used, the board shall be not less than 2 feet 6 inches or more than 4 feet from the surface of the water and the voluntary dives shall be selected from the following table:
Standing. Running. 1—Backward spring and forward dive (half twist) 1.4 2—Backward spring and backward dive (full twist) 1.9 3—Forward spring and backward dive (half twist) 1.5 1.6 4—Forward spring and forward dive (full twist) 1.8 1.8 5—Forward somersault 1.5 1.5 6—Forward 1½ somersault 1.8 1.7 7—Forward double somersault 2.2 1.9 8—Backward somersault 1.5 9—Backward 1½ somersault 2.2 10—Backward double somersault 2.2 11—Backward spring and forward somersault 1.9 12—Flying Dutchman (forward spring and backward dive) 1.7 1.8 13—Flying Dutchman somersault (forward spring and backward somersault) 1.8 1.8 14—Handstand 1.2 15—Jackknife forward 1.4 1.5 16—Jackknife backward 1.5 17—Jackknife forward and half twist 1.8 1.9 18—Jackknife forward and full twist 2.2 2.2 19—Jackknife backward and half twist 1.9 20—Jackknife backward and full twist 2.2 21—Backward dive 1.5
_High Diving from a Firm Take-off._ For high diving competitions from a firm take-off the platforms shall be 7 feet wide, fixed, free from spring and placed at two heights, the first not less than 14 feet and not more than 16 feet and the second not less than 24 feet and not more than 27 feet above the surface of the water.
The program for championships shall consist of two compulsory dives from the lower platform, namely, one plain back dive and one backward somersault; and two from the high platform, one running plain dive and one standing plain dive, and six voluntary dives, to be performed from the high platform and to be selected from the following table: