Item 0012 - Margaret de Saram

• 1961-07-02 (Produção)

Our sports star of the week is a very young girl, who, three years ago was scared stiff of the water but today she is one of Ceylon's best swimming prospects. She is 10-year-old Margaret de Saram, daughter of 'Koo' and Betty de Saram.

Till until a decade ago, the de Sarams were associated with cricket and tennis. In recent years we had the de Sarams excelling in swimming. First we had Tara, who shattered all the records in the books, and now little Margaret, a cousin of Tara, is in the news.

Margaret started swimming at the age of seven in 1957. The previous year she played outside the pool, while her sister Leila was learning to swim.

Suddenly she decided that she too must learn to swim, and with the ready assistance of some of the older members of the Otters club, made good progress.

A few months after she had swum a length, Margaret won her first event, and that was the 33 1/3 metres free style at the Public Schools meet..

In 1958 and 1959, Margaret spent some time under the guidance of Harry Nightingale. She benefitted a great deal from his coaching in in 1959 was awarded the Bronze Otter for the most improved child swimmer of the club.

From then onwards, Margaret went from strength to strength and the last year was most successful for her. She bettered four Juvenile records in her age group (Under 10):—the 33 1/3 metres Butterfly stroke clocking 30.4 secs 66 2/3 metres free style returning 53.3 secs. and in the back stroke timed 30.1 secs. All these records were set up at the Public's meet while she beat the 33 1/3 metres. Breast stroke at the Otters Juvenile Gala.

At this year's Public Schools' meet, held last week, in a higher age group, (under 12), Margaret scored a good 'treble' setting up records in the 66 2/3 metres free-style (50 secs.) and 33 1/3 metres back stroke (28.4 secs.)

According to Harry Nightingale, little Margaret is a future Ceylon champion, who will excel as a back-stroker.

• Child Athlete
• Swimming

• The Times of Ceylon Press (Produtor)