THERE was no gold, only the appreciation of a nation, for Michelle Smith after she had finished third in the final of the Olympic 200 metres butterfly championship in Atlanta last night.
The final accolade in an unforgettable week was denied her when she was out paced over the last of the four lengths of the Olympic pool by two Australians, Susan O'Neill and Petria Thomas.
The consolation of a bronze medal to go with the three gold. medals she had won earlier was enhanced significantly after the giant scoreboard at the end of the pool showed that she had established an Irish record for the event of 2 minutes 9.81 seconds.
Of her performance in winning the four medals, Michelle said. It has surpassed all my dreams.
"I thoroughly enjoyed the week's swimming. I want to thank all those people who have supported me at home and here in Atlanta. Now I will have to take a few weeks off to see where I go from here."
Tricolours were everywhere in evidence with the lettering on one of the banners proclaiming Smithmania in the USA".
The evening had started on an ominous note when Michelle arrived late on the starting blocks after the band of her goggles had snapped in the dressing room.
"I asked the officials to wait a minute while I got a replacement from my husband but they simply refused," she said.
"There was nothing else to do but to borrow goggles from a Dutch swimmer who was competing in a later race and it made a difference. Although the replacement was quite comfortable, it wasn't my own and I knew it when I was in the water".
The multiple champion, seeking to emulate the achievement of Mark Spitz, the celebrated American, and Kristin Otto as the only ones to win four individual swimming titles at the same games, was gracious in defeat.
"Those who beat me are good swimmers and I am happy to have got out with a bronze medal after a very tiring programme.
"Had this race been held earlier in the week I think we might have had a different result but as it happened I just didn't have the strength to go with them in the closing stages.
"In a way, it was part of the price I paid for competing in the 200 metres individual medley on Wednesday. I knew that it would jeopardise my chances of winning the butterfly but in the sense that I got a third gold medal on Wednesday, I can't really complain about that decision."
The Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, said this morning "Michelle Smith's magnificent performances in Atlanta this week have captured the heart and spirit of the nation. Her gold and bronze medals are rich reward for her many years of dedication, hard work and sacrifice. She is a supreme athlete and a great ambassador for her sport and her country. We thank her for the great joy, deep pride and sheer excitement she has given us.