PETE DESJARDINS : Difficult Dives'
(Midland Regional Programme)
The great American diver ' Pete ' Desjardins, who has been called the cleverest diver in the world, is over in England lecturing and giving displays throughout the country. Tonight listeners are to have the opportunity to hear a talk by him. Diving has been topical this summer in view of the Empire Games and its competitions that have been held in the new swimming pool at Wembley.
Desjardins was over here in 1931, and those who saw him dive understood why he has been called ' the little bronze statue of Florida '. There must be many listeners who remember the talk he gave that summer.
In the 1928 Olympic Games he won both the Spring Board and the High Diving events, and so became champion of the world. His swallow dive from a thirty-three foot spring board has the grace of a bird, and his one-and-a-half forward somersault with a full twist-the supreme test of muscular control-has only been accomplished by four other divers in the world.