TONIGHT, at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Centre, Michelle Smith will once again be the focus of attention as she attempts to win her fourth Olympic gold medal in the 200 metres butterfly.
Michelle was last night presented to President Clinton during a function at the Olympic swimming arena in Atlanta. She spoke to the President and invited him back to Dublin. He, in turn, wished her luck in her marriage. Mr Clinton also met the president of the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI), Mr Pat Hickey, and his wife.
The meeting between Michelle and President Clinton was seen as a step towards healing the rift between the Irish swimmer and American competitors who have questioned her improved performances.
Michelle swims in the butterfly heats at 3.05 p.m. Irish time today, with the final at 12.30 a.m. Twenty minutes later, Ireland's other great Olympic hopeful, Sonia O'Sullivan, will make her Atlanta debut in the heats of the 5,000 metres. The final of that event takes place on Sunday.
The questions raised by the US swimming camp about the remarkable improvement in Smith's form were firmly rebuffed yesterday, when it was confirmed that she had got the all clear in the first round of drugs tests at the Games.
The International Olympic Committee does not normally make negative results public, but it was requested to do so by the OCI, which wanted to clear up the innuendoes in some sections of the US media.
In the meantime, the omens are good for Michelle. There is a touch of deja vu about each passing day for the triple gold medallist. A race in the morning, a race at night. Gold. Followed by a rest day, a time for massage and relaxation. Today, it's another race day. And, in Smith's current form, she appears unstoppable.
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