Events go swimmingly as Irish enjoy medal success

TEAM IRELAND: Team Ireland enjoyed its first medal success of the games yesterday when its swimmers took three silvers and a bronze in the 100 metres backstroke, writes Joe Humphreys.

Karina Houlihan, from Thurles, Co Tipperary; Tony McManus, from Lucan, Co Dublin; and Bríd Lynch, from Dublin all finished runner-up in their divisions, while Thomas Ryan, from Cashel, Co Tipperary, took a third-place spot.

Laura Jane Dunne, from Dundrum, Dublin, just missed out on a medal with a fourth-place finish but will have a chance to make up for it when she races in three other events this week.

Two Irish sprinters also came close to taking medals at Morton Stadium, Santry. Shane O'Dwyer, from Clonsilla, Dublin, finished fourth and Nigel Phillips from Bray, Co Wicklow, fifth in the 50 metres.

Going one better was Sammy-Jo Sweeney, from Cookstown, Co Tyrone, who took bronze in the women's 50 metres.

Others in the athletics squad, including Aine Lawlor, from Marino, Dublin, put in personal bests in the 400 metres preliminaries.

Coach Phyllis Gilliland remarked half-jokingly: "I'm a bit worried. They're running so well maybe they've peaked too soon."

Among the other highlights for the athletics team was a fourth place finish for its oldest member, Josie Lambert (65), from Swinford, Co Mayo, in the 100 metre walk preliminaries.

Team Ireland's head of delegation Ms Vivienne Buckley was delighted with the first day's performance, especially after such a late finish for many of the athletes on Saturday night. "Most people didn't get back until 2 a.m. and were up again at 7 a.m."

While the athletes had no trouble waking up, she noted, it was a different story for many of the officials. "I felt like an elephant sat on me this morning, and that was without touching a drink."

Many athletes who weren't engaged in action yesterday headed for the Olympic Village at the RDS. Some of the pitch-and-putt squad were lucky enough to meet Mohammed Ali, who arrived unexpectedly at the Dublin venue. Meanwhile, the kayaking squad made good use of the day by undergoing a free "head to toe" check-up in the medical tent.

Everyone was still on a high after Saturday's opening ceremony, described as a "wild evening" by canoeing coach John Daly. His personal highlight was the lighting of the Olympic flame by bowler David McCauley.