THE CRAWL STROKE Many swimmers were of opinion that the Trudgen' stroke, as now understood, was identically the same stroke as used by Trudgen, but this is incorrect. Trudgen swam high out of the water, thrusting both arms in front of him, with his chest and head well raised, but practically in the same position as one using the breast stroke. The Trudgen' stroke now used is to all intents and purposes a double over-arm, the swimmer lying well down in the water, with his head almost totally immersed. Several expressed the opinion that this particular stroke was the stroke of the future for racing purposes. Hardly had this opinion gained ground, however, than there •arrived in England a young swimmer named R. Cavill, who revolu tionised all ideas about speed swimming for short distances by introducing a further modification of this style,• which was at .once termed the crawl' -stroke. It resembles much the
movements of the double over-arm stroke, but with this difference, that the swirrnner• buries his face and keeps-flat on the water, using his arms in precisely the same way but at 21 much greater rate, which rate is brought about by the quick movement of the legs. They are kicked down from the knee to-the toe on lathe surface by the feet being alternately raised out of the water, and without the body being turned from side to side. These movements are rapidly performed and con• sequently tiring. The swimmer appears to be crawling over the water instead of being in it, hence there is much splashing. It cannot be said that the action is graceful, but it certainly is particularly speedy, as Cavill has swum a hundred yards in a forty-four yards' bath in the remarkable time of 583- secs.