TRY FOR A LAST HURRAH

THE 100-METER BACKSTROKE

Of the 26 swimming events in Montreal, none will attract more attention from the cognoscenti of the sport than the 100-meter backstroke. The defending champion is East Germany's Roland Matthes, 25, an old man among swimming's Wunderkinder who four years ago set the world record mark of 56.30 sec. For Matthes, a skinny (155 lbs.) six-footer, Montreal represents a last chance to add to his stockpile of seven Olympic medals, four of them gold, collected in 1968 and 1972. His challenger is John Naber, five years Matthes'junior, half a foot taller, 40 lbs. heavier and a record smasher himself. At last month's U.S. swim trials at Long Beach, Naber, a senior at U.S.C., toppled by 1.23 sec. the 200-meter backstroke world record of 2:01.87, held since 1973 by--that's right--Roland Matthes. In the 100 meters, Naber finished a mere half-second off Matthes' record time.

More effective at the shorter distance, Matthes is expected to enter only the 100-meter backstroke and the 100-meter butterfly, not the 200-meter backstroke. Thus a repeat of the events of August 1974 at Concord, Calif., will not be possible. In a dual meet there between the U.S. and East Germany, Naber stunned Matthes with his first backstroke defeats in seven years, whipping him in both sprints as well as the first leg of the medley relay. Following the meet, Naber wept after he received the East German's sweatsuit that he had exchanged for his own.

Although nicknamed "Snake" because of his unusual flexibility, there is nothing serpentine about Naber's cheery, flakey personality. He offers competitors back-slapping encouragement before races; after sinking his rivals he has been known to celebrate by throwing roses to the crowd.

Hyperactive in all he does--he habitually table-hops his way through lunch at school--Naber's seemingly unlimited energy is reflected in his approach to his sport. He plans to swim not only the two backstroke events but also the 200-meter freestyle--his time at the U.S. trials bettered Mark Spitz's 1972 Olympic winning time by more than a second --and two relays. "I'd rather be good at everything," says Naber, "than be excellent in one thing." Asked to size up his East German rival, Naber is characteristically generous and accurate: "Matthes is experience, maturity and talent, sure, but above all he is class. He is never bitter, never overly jubilant. I wish I could say that for myself."

Matthes is equally complimentary. Says he: "Naber has everything a great swimmer needs, and at 20 he is probably at his peak." With Naber in mind and with training to make up for what was lost because of a May appendectomy, Matthes has been swimming six miles a day, which is his normal workout distance. He has been improving steadily, and expects his condition will peak at exactly the right time--the first week at Montreal.

Ever unassuming and casual--he favors Western blue jeans and leather jackets--Matthes once harbored notions of becoming a rock-'n'-roll drummer, but has since decided on a more settled career: "sport research." More settled too is his active social life. He recently became engaged to the most impressive of all swimmers, East Germany's Kornelia Ender, 17, who last month set five world records in five days.

Though Matthes has been unable to top his own world record in four years of 100-meter backstroke competition, there is nothing like the Olympics to embolden an athlete--even an old one. Says Matthes: "It is going to be harder than ever for me, but I have a chance." Says Naber: "I can beat him. I'm not saying I will beat him, but I can beat him."

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