Len Smith (swimmer)

Leonard Smith (29 July 1906 – 14 March 1998) was a New Zealand swimmer, who represented his country at the 1934 British Empire Games in London.

Len Smith
Personal information
Birth nameLeonard Smith
Born(1906-07-29)29 July 1906
Wanganui, New Zealand
Died14 March 1998(1998-03-14) (aged 91)
New Zealand
OccupationFarmer
Sport
CountryNew Zealand
SportSwimming
ClubFeilding Amateur Swimming Club
Achievements and titles
National finals100 yd breaststroke, 1st (1939)
220 yd breaststroke, 1st (1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936)
Personal best(s)100 yd breaststroke: 1:15.6
220 yd breaststroke: 3:01.4

Born in Wanganui in 1906,[1] Smith was a farmer[2] and a member of the Feilding Amateur Swimming Club.[3] He won nine New Zealand national breaststroke titles: the 100 yards in 1939; and the 220 yards every year from 1929 to 1936.[4] His best winning time for the 220 yards breaststroke was 3:01.4, which he swam in breaking his own New Zealand record at the 1935 national championships at the Tepid Baths in Auckland.[5][6] He also held the national 100 yards breaststroke record, with a time of 1:15.6 clocked when he won the New Zealand title for that distance in 1939.[7][8]

At the 1934 British Empire Games, Smith competed in the men's 200 yards breaststroke.[2] He finished third in his heat and did not progress.[2] However, he reached the final of the 3 x 100 yards medley relay with teammates Noel Crump and Wiremu Whareaitu, finishing fifth.[1]

Smith retired from competitive swimming after the 1939 season.[9]

References
  1. "Len Smith". New Zealand Olympic Committee. 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  2. Palenski, Ron; Maddaford, Terry (1983). The Games. Auckland: MOA Publications. p. 57. ISBN 0-908570-62-7.
  3. "Feilding Swimming Club: annual meeting". Horowhenua Chronicle. 20 October 1932. p. 7. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  4. McLintock, A.H., ed. (1966). "Swimming – national championships". An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Wellington: Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  5. "Swimming stars". New Zealand Herald. 18 February 1935. p. 11. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  6. "Swimming". Evening Post. 10 January 1938. p. 11. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  7. "Swimming champs: fast times recorded". Horowhenua Chronicle. 20 February 1939. p. 7. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  8. "Swimming records". Evening Post. 8 April 1939. p. 9. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  9. "Wanganui nominee". Evening Post. 31 January 1939. p. 16. Retrieved 26 June 2017.


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