WITH her hair scarcely dry and her thoughts hardly ordered, Michelle Smith faced a packed press conference. Congratulations were perfunctory. The questions from both Irish and foreign journalists were tough and searching.

Two golds. It's a fairy story commented one US journalist, but in the US, the fairy story has another slant. The response was calm and reasoned.

"I think the difference between here and in Europe is that in Europe people have seen me and the changes I have made in my training. Maybe that's why it was a bit of a surprise, but to my competitors in Europe it wasn't a surprise.

Do you understand why the question is posed asked an Irish journalist.

"Yes," said Smith.

All day Smith had been surrounded by controversy or rumour. Now the questions came like air hissing out of a valve.

It has been said that you hadn't swum a competitive 400 freestyle in 12 years before last month "I think that's another fairy story," said Smith.

Pause.

"I haven't been swimming it all along. I have a lot of events. I have six qualifying times. I tend to concentrate on butterfly and medley. I have never put all my concentration and energy into 400 metres freestyle. This year sometimes I'll do 100km a week, that's a lot. That's why my 400 events have improved."

Training or sheer will to win, what's the trade off?

"I'm determined," said Smith. "I have a will to win. Ireland hasn't a tradition in swimming, we also don't have great facilities. I've had to make sacrifices. What will stick out in my mind is not so much winning the medals, but the people I won them against."

The questions softened for a while, but there was an almost tangible itch in the room to cut back to the controversy.

"Are you surprised Michelle at the ungraciousness of the US team and journalists?," asked an Australian.

"Not surprised," she said. "Disappointed. I've worked very very hard for this, put my heart and soul into this, trained six days a week, six hours a day, all I do is eat, sleep and train."

Then, one of the ungracious Americans. A little conciliatory this time. "Have the events of the past few days debunked myths about age?"

"The whole myth about age, that's really changing. All the women here on the podium are in their twenties. You can go on as long as you keep to your daily routine. Some marathon runners are going on to their thirties"

Sean Ban Breathnach interjects, as Gaeilge, to ask if the gold wreathed swimmer has any intention of running for the general secrctarialship of the UN. There is a thin collective laugh when the translation circulates.

On to the next question. "How many times have each of the medalists been tested (for drugs) this year?"

Michelle Smith answers first.

"I can't remember exactly how many times I've been tested, but I know in May/June they came to my house and the same day, later on, I had an unannounced test by the Olympic Council of Ireland. I was going back to Holland and I said to the FINA guy, oh I'm very popular with FINA drug testing, I'll expect to see you again. The same guy called to me in Holland two weeks later."

An Irish journalist referred to the events of a turbulent morning. "Were you aware that Janet Evans had spoken like that?"

"I didn't know. I was surprised," said Smith.

"Janet said she had never been tempted to take drugs. Have you ever been tempted?"

"No, absolutely not. It would be a really stupid thing for me to do, something like that. Once you are in the top 20 in the world rankings you are liable to be tested at any time by FINA or your own federation. I've been sitting at home at 9.0 on a Sunday morning and the drug testers have come to my door. You are in your pyjamas and these people want a urine sample. It's part of the job. You are not going to be that stupid."

So it went. A long explanation of her training routine, the occasional question to Dagmar Hase and Kirsten Vlieghuis on either side of her. Questions about the affect of married life on her swimming. She spoke confidently and warmly about being the only swimmer Eric de Bruin has under his wing, enjoying the benefits of personal attention. One last sting. A question about Erik and his drug test.

"If," she said, "you want to ask about me and my swimming, that's fine. I won't speak about anything else."

And there it ended. An historic day. An impressive woman. She left with her entourage, focusing already on the remains of her week. Suddenly all things seem possible.

Philip Reid adds. The comments from Janet Evans didn't go down well with Michelle Smith's father Brian. He was in no mood to mince his words.

"Janet Evans should be ashamed of herself," said Mr Smith. "The whole American attitude and their innuendoes and remarks are a disgrace. We know Michelle is clean, but these people are dirty. The Olympics are all about spirit, however they have been most unsporting.

"The Americans claim Tom Dolan is the best all round swimmer in the world. Michelle is twice as good as Dolan. We have always had confidence in Michelle and she isn't finished yet."