New York Times, July 24, 1921.
WINS TITLE SWIM; HIS SUIT DISQUALIFIES HIM
Bolden, First in Ten-Mile Championship, Loses Because Not Sartorially Correct
RIVERTON, NJ, July 23 -- Eugene T Bolden of the Illinois Athletic Club, Chicago, twice winner of the National AAU ten-mile swimming championship in the Delaware River, finished first in that event again today, but was disqualified for not wearing a regulation suit as called for by the rules.
James W Hall Jr (above), Central YMCA, Brooklyn, who finished second, was awarded the race.
When Bolden entered the water at Race Street Wharf in Philadelphia, he wore the regulation suit, but when he emerged at the Riverton Yacht Club here he had only an elastic supporter. As he approached the finish line an easy winner, he was cheered by a crowd which had waited two hours for the long-distance swimmers to appear. He was acclaimed by the crowd, and disappointment was expressed when the referee, Herman Meyer of Philadelphia, announced the disqualification.
Bolden explained that the suit bothered him shortly after taking the water, and with the consent of his trainer he discarded it.
Twenty-six contestants entered the water, and nineteen finished. Bolden led practically all the way. His time for the ten miles was 2:07:45. Hall's time was 2:12:25.
I so want to see a photograph of Bolden...
2 comments:
Hear hear,
That pic looks like what our American friends might call 'the olden days'.
The little-known fact is that he was actually disqualified for using a winged keel.
(sorry ... it's late and I've had a big day)
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