Laura Jane Dunne beamed brilliantly and brightly, with a smile that could have lit up an average- sized city, if given the chance. Ireland's success in the water nearly raised the Aquatic Centre roof, writes Mary Hannigan.
When the awards ceremony ended, she made her way back to her Irish team-mates who had gathered to cheer her.
She showed them the ribbon she had received for finishing fourth in the 100 metres backstroke final (division one) and they smothered her with hugs. The fondest embrace was reserved for Julie Crowley, the Lucan woman who had hosted the 18-year-old, a native of Dundrum, for five days before the Special Olympics commenced.
"I'm so proud of her," said Crowley, "she's just fantastic." Dunne, from Donaghmede club The Jets, beamed again, throwing her arms around her "mother host", squeezing her with affection. How do you feel, Laura? "Very tired," she said, "it's a big pool, I'm exhausted, but I'm very happy."
Finished now? No. Back today, and the day after, and the day after. No rest? She shook her head and beamed again. The last thing Laura Jane Dunne wants is rest, plenty of time for that next week.
The next Irish finalist? Bríd Lynch, another Dubliner, a finalist in the 100 metres backstroke (division four). Spare a thought for the Mountmellick folk who travelled to the National Aquatics Centre in Abbotstown to cheer on Peru, their Special Olympics guests. When Claudia Brunner was introduced to the crowd, the Mountmellick contingent erupted. When Brid Lynch was introduced they erupted again. Flip. Who do we shout for? Answer: both.
In the end, Lynch held off Brunner with the gutsiest of swims to take bronze, Ireland's first swimming medal at these Games. If the roof on the centre wasn't so securely attached, it would have been found in a field in Athenry. Lifted, almost. Lifted, like the crowd. Wonderful stuff, an experience that will live joyfully long in Lynch's memory. And Brunner's ovation from Mountmellick will endure a while too.
"Magical," said Luis Pimenthal, father of Venezuelan swimmer Pablo. "This is beautiful," he smiled, "very beautiful. We have more than 100 athletes here," he said proudly, "one of the biggest teams from South America". They travelled from their home towns to Caracas, and from there to Madrid. And from there to Dublin, and from there to Castlebar. And the people of Castlebar made the best effort for them to be happy, it will be with them for the rest of their lives, this is what Pablo tells me.
"Kind people. Lovely people." There's a defiant pride in Pimenthal's words. There is no limit to his pride in Pablo, a beautiful, handsome 17-year-old.
"With my hand on heart do you know how much we got from the Venezuelan government to take this team to Ireland? Not a cent, not one cent.
"We have a crazy President, crazy. All the people here with the team are brothers, sisters, uncles, mothers, fathers. They are attorneys, architects, teachers - our President says 'you are rich, you do not need our help'.
"So we had to raise the money to bring our children here. I saw the mayor of Caracas collecting money in a bucket on the streets, our crazy President is not interested in our children."
Spanish golfing legend Seve Ballesteros, a guest at Day One of the swimming in Abbotstown, echoes the sentiments. "The athletes are so brave, I see how hard they try, how courageous they are.
"I am happy to be part of all of this, to be one of the many, many volunteers. It is so exciting, the crowds are so much bigger than I expected, it's a wonderful experience."
Back in the pool Tipperary's Karina Houlihan takes silver for Ireland, her fellow county-man Thomas Ryan equalling the achievement, as did Lucan's Tony McManus. "I was crying in the dressing rooms," said Houlihan. "Why?," asked her Munster coach, Mary O'Connor. "Ah," said Houlihan, "I was just so happy."
