Sir, - Well done to Anne Walsh (September 26th) for daring to mention Michelle Smith in the context of the Olympic Games. Like her, I had noticed that the media, which are full of sentimental waffle about Irish achievements in the Olympics, past, present and future, have simply decided that Michelle Smith never existed.
She won medals for Ireland, unchallenged, in the past, and is therefore part of sporting history. Why can't we be comfortable with this, instead of falling over ourselves to forget, while we nearly have a national holiday over Sonia O'Sullivan? Michelle Smith, despite what finally ensued, has been a fantastic swimmer, just as Sonia has proved herself to be a fantastic runner. Let's get the balance right and learn to grow up about ourselves! - Yours, etc.,
Heather Abrahamson, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14.