Swimming: Golden girl back with vengeance

OLYMPIC GAMES

As if the Americans were not fed up enough with Michelle Smith running away with their thunder, she delivered a piece of news in the early hours of yesterday designed to have them banging their heads against the Olympic pool. If she was in any other sport, she revealed, she would have had to retire.

Smith, who has collected three gold medals to the accompaniment of the United States team - led by the four-times Olympic gold medallist Janet Evans - saying that questions were being asked as to whether she is on drugs, has a back problem that would make running or jumping impossible. Clearly, it has little impact on her swimming.

In the aftermath of winning the 200 metres individual medley in the early hours of yesterday, Ireland's favourite daughter instantly focused in on four years ago when she talked about the most disappointing point in her career. Her poor performances in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics were a result of being hampered by injury.

"I was swimming well but I sprained a disc in my back and it ruined my Games," she said. "I'm OK now but I have degenerated discs in my back and it's a problem I'm stuck with. It's a good job I'm swimming because if I participated in any other sport I'd have to give up."

That tantalising scenario was delivered as a finale to a day in which the Irish team had been playing "will she, won't she" over her participation in the medley final. They said she had a back strain quite apart from the perpetual discs problem, but it seemed to be news to her. "What slight injury?" she said when questioned about it. "I have a rash from shaving, but that's all.

"I did consider pulling out of the final because I had the 200m butterfly two days later. If I had seen really fast times in the heats, I'd have withdrawn. When I looked at what had happened in the morning, I knew I had a good chance in the final."

Smith was cleared when the first round of drug tests from the Atlanta Games were announ- ced yesterday. The Irish Olympic chief, Pat Hickey, said: "We're particularly happy about this because of the vicious attack by the American Swimming Federation - all to protect Janet Evans, who didn't even make it in the end."

Smith's repeated cries at press conferences that she has never used performance- enhancing drugs have fallen on deaf ears, especially those attached to Americans. "For every time a member of the US team is tested, I'm tested five times," she added yesterday.

On the subject of Evans' comments, the Irish swimmer said: "Janet swam 4:03 for the 400m freestyle eight years ago. If I was on drugs I wouldn't be swimming 4:07; I'd be better than the world record."

Smith now turns this morning to what is arguably her best event, the 200m butterfly. Yesterday she spent the day relaxing, having a massage, watching television and supporting two Irish boxers. "I don't need to refocus. After winning my first gold medal I was determined just to enjoy the rest of the Games.

"I'm very proud of where I'm from. I've never made a point of making excuses because we are a small country and we don't have the funds. I don't cry about it; I do something. If the people at home are enjoying this, I'm really happy." She can rest assured they are, and all Irish eyes will be following her moves in Atlanta's pool today.