Len Smith (swimmer)

New Zealand swimmer (1906–1998)

Len Smith

Smith in 1934

Personal information
Birth name| Leonard Smith
Born| (1906-07-29)29 July 1906
Whanganui, New Zealand
Died| 14 March 1998(1998-03-14) (aged 91)
New Zealand
Occupation| Farmer
Sport
Country| New Zealand
Sport| Swimming
Club| Feilding Amateur Swimming Club
Achievements and titles
National finals| 100 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

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.

Born in Whanganui 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

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Len Smith". New Zealand Olympic Committee. 2016. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
2. ^ a b c 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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1934 New Zealand British Empire Games team

Athletics|

* Harold Brainsby
* Geoff Broadway
* Jack Lovelock

Cycling|

* Frank Grose

Lawn bowls|

* George Carter
* Billy Dillicar
* Harold Grocott
* Len Keys
* George Pollard

Swimming|

* Noel Crump
* Len Smith
* Wiremu Whareaitu

Chef de Mission: Arthur Porritt

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