Out of Green Lake

Since she left Seattle in January to compete with famed swimmers in the south, Helene Madison had broken five world's records, most of them in sprints. She thought she could do better than that. Last week in Jacksonville over a 20-yd. course she swam 500 yds. while A. A. U. judges timed her. When she got out of the pool she had beaten the time for every standard distance from 200 to 500 yards.

Distance in Old Time Helene Madison's Yds. (Min.: Sec.) Time 200 2:25 2/5 2:23 220 2:41 1/5 2:39 300 3:47 2/5 3:41 400 5:15 5:00 440 5:48 5:31 2/5 500 6:36 6:17 By the time she was dressed and had eaten supper, telegrams began arriving from Seattle. The Chamber of Commerce wanted to know when she was coming home. Great plans had been made--a band, a banquet, a car with flowers & flags and room beside Helene for her father. Charles William Madison, honest Seattle cleaner-and-dyer. Obscure Seattlites got into print by telling how she learned to do the dog-paddle in Green Lake.

Helene Madison swims "free-style." which means she uses that adaptation of the Australian crawl which U. S. coaches have worked out as the fastest way in which a human being can propel itself through water. A swimmer using this stroke must have long, supple legs for much of the power comes from the hips, knees and ankles. The arms are used somewhat as in the trudgeon stroke. Helene Madison's feet are narrower than those of Johnny Weissmuller, famed male freestyler, but long enough to be good paddles. She has big hands and a tall, athletic body so matured by swimming that it looks little like the body of a 16-year-old girl. She has blonde hair, an expression of indolence and good-nature. Ray E. Daughters of the Crystal pool in Seattle taught her to swim.

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