Perfectionist

Yale's burly (6 ft. 1 in., 215 Ibs.), black-haired Jim Fuchs has broken world or meet records in every outing this spring. Last week, in his graduation performance in the I.C.4-A.-track & field meet at New York City's Randalls Island, he had something of an off day. He did not break the world record again; he merely broke his own meet record by more than a foot (in a qualifying toss), placed second in the discus and led Yale to the team title over 46 competing colleges.

As theatrical as he is efficient, Fuchs spits on his gold-colored, 16-lb. shot and thoughtfully polishes it with a massive paw before he gets poised for his throw. Then, with a negative, jowl-flapping shudder of his head, he crouches slightly on his powerful legs ("they're 50% of my success") and uncoils his frame from his toes to his fingertips. His heave last week was 57 ft. 9+- in., 8+- in. short of his own latest world record, set in April.

Said Fuchs after the effort: "Sooner or later someone will throw it 60 feet. I hope I'm the one." His post-graduation plans now that he has his degree in sight (A.B., Sociology major) include competition for the New York Athletic Club, then a shot at the 1952 Olympics. Said perfectionist Shot-putter Fuchs, rubbing a tender index finger: "If I were satisfied now, I'd never get any better."

-For Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America.

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