New zealand swimmer tessa staveley made headlines when she won a silver medal at the 1958 empire and commonwealth games. She is perhaps best known for her four alex books, following the fortunes of a teenage competitive swimmer. I quickly fell in love with the novels on the class reading list and kept my roommate up late one night as i related plotlines and characters. It was an honour to represent new zealand the best way i could. Since he retired from competitive swimming, he has worked as an administrator in canada, australia, and new zealand. With lauren a jackson, chris haywood, josh picker, cathy godbold. Sep 01, 1987 talented and driven, alex archer is trying to keep her head above waterliterally and figurativelyas she tries to manage friends, boyfriend, family, school, and journalists, all while training to beat her archnemesis, maggie, at the new zealand olympic swim trials. Intimidated by her older, more experienced rivals, 15yearold alex undergoes a week of intensive training, yet manages to find enough time to become better acquainted with tom, an intriguing. Tessa duder nee staveley, born november 1940 is a new zealand author of novels for young people, short stories, plays and nonfiction, and a former swimmer who won a silver medal for her country at the 1958 british empire and commonwealth games. Jul 12, 20 over christmas, my dad discovered alex archer.
Later, as tessa duder, she became one of new zealands leading authors for children and young adults. Headstrong new zealand teen alex archer trains to qualify for the 1960 rome olympics in the womens 100 freestyle. This new zealand film follows alex archer, a teen with a dream of competing in the 1960 rome olympics in the womens 100m freestyle event. When i was a bit younger and a swimmer myself obviously nowhere near the. This sequel to in lane three, alex archer continues the saga of the new zealand swimmer as alessandra arrives in rome to compete in the 1960 olympics. New zealands first female olympic medallist, yvette williams won gold in the long jump with an olympicrecord leap of 6. In lane three, alex archer 1989 introduced a thoughtful, independentminded champion swimmer. Published in 1987, this novel recounts the fictional story of one young new zealand swimmer as she tries to win a spot on the 1960 olympic. Alexander baumann, oc oont born april 21, 1964 is a canadian sports administrator and former competitive swimmer who won two gold medals and set two world records. He chomped through them in a day or two and had to search out the next couple.
Lauren boyle became just the fourth kiwi swimmer to attend three olympic games during rio 2016. She takes ballet, plays on the school hockey team, and somehow finds time to perform in the school. The books have long been regarded as new zealand classics. A waterman of the absolute highest calibre, moss has represented new zealand at the highest level in four aquatic sports. Lauren boyle named 2016 new zealand swimmer of the year. Young adult literature of new zealand in my third year as an undergraduate studying english, i took a young adult literature yal class.
Js take on in lane three, alex archer by tessa duder. The alex quartet, by tessa duder this is actually four books alex which i think was sold as in lane three, alex archer in the us, or something equally determined to declare this is a book about a swimmer, alex in winter, alessandra. Unlike the other top swimmers who train only for swimming, alex takes piano and ballet lessons to go with a full school workload. Event time name club date meet location ref 50m freestyle. As a writer, she is primarily known for her alex quartet and longterm advocacy for new zealand childrens literature. Rankings for new zealand swimmers from domestic and international competitions from 1st of january 2016 to 31st december 2016. Fifteenyearold swimming champ alex archer has her mind set on one. A new generation of young people will now be able to follow the fortunes of teenage swimmer alex archer covered in the four books. New zealands premier swimmer lauren boyle retires stuff. The list contains the best, new and most relevant movies set in new zealand ordered by relevance. Now alex, still not quite 16, is representing new zealand in the 1960 olympics, where against her own expectationsshe wins a bronze.
This is the fourth and final novel in a series about alex archer, champion swimmer. Tessa duders window into new zealand in the 1950s and 1960s is so evocative, alex herself so real and. As a member of the new zealand swimming team, fifteenyearold alex get. Alex lauren jackson is a wellrounded girl in addition to being an olympicquality competitor. The multiawardwinning story that has captured the hearts and minds of thousands of readers. Lauren has been new zealands most successful swimmer, winning five of the countrys 10 medals ever won at the fina world championships. Fifteenyearold alex struggles to overcome personal trauma and hardship as she competes with. Mclean added to rio 2016 new zealand swimming team. At twelve years old, alex begins thinking that she might be a good enough swimmer to represent new zealand in the olympics in 1960, when she is sixteen. Unfortunately, her life does not allow her to focus solely on swimming like other top competitors. Lewis clareburt right became the 5th new zealand swimmer to win a medal at a fina championship meet when he took bronze in the 400 im.
In the past year she has fallen in love and has known what it is to lose in swimming and in life. As a swimmer training for selection for the 1958 empire games, i had no serious rival for my place. The 29yearold auckland native became just the fourth kiwi swimmer to attend three olympic games 2008. Tessa duder obe nee staveley, born november 1940 is a new zealand author of novels for young people, short stories, plays and nonfiction, and a former swimmer who won a silver medal for her country at the 1958 british empire and commonwealth games. So far youre going, um, okay, so its books about a swimmer. Alex alex is a champion teenage swimmer determined to win selection to the 1960 rome olympics, in this adaptation of the awardwinning young adults novel. Written by ex empire games swimming medallist tessa duder, alex was the first in a quartet of books exploring the vicissitudes of the high achiever freestyler as she deals with rivalry, ambition, first love and the pressures of growing up. Jun 14, 2017 a brief history of feminist literature in new zealand. The recommendation service has sorted out realistic, serious, suspenseful, captivating, touching and atmospheric films and tv shows about with storytelling, mentor, dialogue, deadly, culture clash, vengeance, family relations, friendship, danger and escapades plots mostly in drama, adventure and. Jul 16, 2014 nikita howarth is off to glasgow to compete at the 2014 commonwealth games.
In lane three, alex archer by tessa duder scholastic. Despite a conscientious chaperon she calls bulldog, she also makes friends with another kiwi, a 23yearold singer who studies in milan but is temporarily in. Talented and driven, alex archer is trying to keep her head above waterliterally and figurativelyas she tries to manage friends, boyfriend, family, school, and journalists, all while training to beat her archnemesis, maggie, at the new zealand olympic swim trials. Without the support of her family, she has to juggle school, piano, ballet, personal tragedy and more. Her triumph came 32 years after new zealands first female olympian, swimmer violet walrond, competed in the 100 m and 300 m at the 1920 antwerp games. This is actually four books alex which i think was sold as in lane three, alex archer in the us.
Following our family tradition of combing each others bookshelves for treasures to steal in my case or borrow in his, he came across the first two books of the alex quartet. Below is a list of current new zealand swimming records as ratified by the national governing body, swimming new zealand. Her best olympic result was a brilliant fourth placing in the 800m freestyle final in london 2012. Jul 31, 2017 it was an honour to represent new zealand the best way i could. Nikita howarth is off to glasgow to compete at the 2014 commonwealth games. Moss burmester represented new zealand for 10 years at the highest level of swimming, competing in two olympics and three commonwealth games. Kane radford, fresh off his fifth consecutive national title at new zealands open water championships in january, won swimming new zealands 2016 open water swimmer of the year. Tessa duder obe nee staveley, born november 1940 is a new zealand author of novels for young people, short stories, plays and nonfiction, and a former swimmer who won a silver.
While a little confidence in an athlete is a good thing, this level of smugness is dangerous, and her cozy world is shattered when an equally good swimmer catherine godbold moves back to new zealand from singapore and begins competing against her. In 2012 loader was new zealands most successful swimmer, and the only new zealander to be inducted into the international swimming hall of fame. Juggling high school, other extracurricular activities, and competitive swimming is tough, though. Her triumph came 32 years after new zealands first female olympian, swimmer violet walrond, competed in the 100 m. A brief history of feminist literature in new zealand. A number of sports involving swimming are popular, including diving, synchronised swimming, water polo and underwater hockey. Now alex, still not quite 16, is representing new zealand in the 1960 olympics, whereagainst her own expectationsshe wins a bronze. Im not much for watching sports videos of the boston and st. A promising new zealand swimmer battles bitter rivalry and personal tragedy to win a place in the 1960 olympic games in rome. The moving and inspiring story of alex, a champion swimmer. Lauren has been new zealand s most successful swimmer, winning five of the countrys 10 medals ever won. Paralympics new zealand has since been reallocated an additional male slot to enable hamish mclean to be selected.
She has reached rome, the only swimmer in the new zealand olympic team, ready for the race for which she has worked so hard and for so long. She speaks about some of the support shes had from high performance sport new zealand before leaving new zealand to do. Since then, it has been part of every edition of the games. They are about a teenaged female swimmer living in. Alex is a 1992 australiannew zealand drama film directed by megan simpson and starring lauren jackson, chris haywood, and josh picker. Teen swimmer alex archer has to battle set backs, intense rivalry and personal tragedy in her bid to win selection for the 1960 olympic games in rome. Despite a conscientious chaperon she calls bulldog, she also makes friends with another kiwi, a 23yearold singer who studies in milan but is. Alex archer is a 15yearold kiwi who has her heart set on winning gold in the 100m freestyle at. Alex is an oldfashioned family film about a teenage girl who overcomes fierce competition and personal tragedy while struggling to make the 1960 new zealand olympic swimming team.
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