Smith denied golden Grand Slam

AN Aussie sucker punch to end the fairy tale. Michelle Smith is human after all and, while the hue of the medal may be slightly darker than the one envisaged, the 26 year old Dubliner still earned herself a place in the Olympic history books at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Centre early this morning.

Bronze. The irony of an Australian girl with an Irish family tree finally ending Smith's dominance of the pool in the 200 metres butterfly was, in a way, a sort of tribute. Susan O'Neill, the star of the swim team from down under, has suffered her fair share of trials and tribulations in recent years and no one, least of all Smith, could, or would, begrudge her victory. It was stunningly executed too. A champion's execution.

O'Neill controlled the race and flashed home in two minutes 7.76 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year and the second fastest in Olympic history to claim her long awaited gold with countrywoman Petria Thomas grabbing the silver. Smith fended off Yun Qu for third.

And, yet, Smith emerged from the pool with the crystal water dripping from her aqua blade swimsuit with her pride very much in tact. She wasn't unstoppable after all. She was fallible but even in defeat, the Smith gave it her all, testified by the fact that her third place finish still furnished yet another national record a time of 2:09.91.

Could anyone have beaten O'Neill last night? It's doubtful. The 22 year old, who took up swimming in an effort to imitate her childhood idol, the former Australian heroine Shane Gould, reaped the ultimate reward and amazingly Australia's first in the pool at Atlanta `96.

The omens were there. Twenty minutes or so before the 200 metres butterfly final, a pinstriped troupe formed a huddle close to the number four starting block which was to be occupied by O'Neill and launched into an Aboringinal ritual. Every little bit helps, of course. And O'Neill probably would not mind a repeat performance from her teammates before every major final if it could ensure the same result. Neither would silver medalist Thomas.

O'Neill was the dominator this time. Smith, who had caused some concern among her growing army of fans when she failed to emerge for the start with the other finalists (apparently because her goggles snapped in the locker room minutes before the race and she was forced to borrow a pair from a passing Dutch swimmer), was still fastest off the blocks with a reaction time of just .72 of a second but there after was playing catch up until the finish.

The goggles mix up upset her usual routine. Instead of taking her customary seat well in advance, the announcer was introducing Thomas in lane three by the time Smith entered the arena. "I tried not to let it upset me, but it wasn't the same as my own equipment," admitted Smith. "However, I don't want to detract from the races swum by Susan band Petria, they were both brilliant."

O'Neill has Irish blood flowing through her veins too. "My dad faxed me a message from back home shortly before the race and reminded me I was nearly as Irish as Michelle," she quipped, basking in the afterglow of her great victory.

And the Australian showed her pedigree, making up for the disappointment of securing just a bronze medal in the event in Barcelona four years ago.

O'Neill reached the 50 metre split in 28.54 seconds (inside Mary T Meagher's world record) and, when turning at the midway 100 metre mark in first place in 1:00.66, was still inside that 15 year old record pace.

However, the incredible pace told on O'Neill although there was no catching her as she powered over the closing stages to win in 2:07.76, over two seconds clear of Thomas who clocked 2:09.82.

The closest Smith managed to get was second place at the 100 metres mark but her three previous competitive finals finally got through to her aching limbs and muscles and she could not make up the deficit.

"I have worked four years for this and it was the proudest moment of my life to stand up on that podium and receive the gold medal," said O'Neill. "I promised myself that if I won I would celebrate and enjoy myself. And I did.

"Michelle has swum superbly all week and I knew she would be a real threat to me, possibly my, biggest danger. But I remained focussed on what I knew I could do and always felt I had it in me to beat her," said O'Neill.

Smith's haul nevertheless is the biggest individual collection garnered by any swimmer in Atlanta `96. Three golds in the 400 metres individual medley, the 400 metres freestyle and the 200 metres individual medley allied to last night's bronze make her the most successful Irish an ever. It is the product and a half years of effort, and one week of remarkable performances in the pool.

"All the races probably did take heir toll on me but that was the choice I had to make. If I didn't swim in the 200 metres individual medley, I would not have won that gold. So, that's the way it goes. I am exceptionally proud of what I have achieved."

Instead of Amhrann na bhFiann sounding out in the Aquatic Centre for a fourth time, it was O'Neill who stood to attention for Advance Australia Fair. And, while Smith had tears in her eyes, they were ones of joy. Three golds and a bronze. It is the sort of present to the Irish people which no other sports person has managed to deliver. Her place in history is secured.