IRELAND'S European swimming champion, Michelle Smith, took time off yesterday from the daily rigours of a punishing training regime as the countdown to Atlanta continues.
The Dutch based 26 year old "I am fortunate in that I enjoy training. I have a promotional commitment here in Dublin tomorrow and then it's back to training. I will probably be my last visit home before the Olympics."
The Dubliner can afford the luxuries of a little time out from the and the odd trip home to visit family in Rathcoole because training, currently at 100,000 a week, is going so well.
The notion that she would her Olympic participation to two events at which she is reigning European champion, the 200 metres' butterfly and the 200 metres individual medley was adamantly discounted. She also intends to go in the 400 metres medley and 100 metres butterfly.
"All things considered I am happily ahead in my schedule at this stage," Smith said.
The question of Olympic accreditation for her coach and fiance Eric de Bruin presents a nagging problem. A ban was imposed on de Bruin, a discus silver medalist at the Barcelona Games, following a drugs related allegation last year. The IAAF have yet to lift its sanction, although the Dutch Athletics Federation has not only exonerated the athlete but has also appointed him as a supervisor of its Olympic athletics squad.
"It is very important for me to be sure that Eric is nearby at Atlanta. He is always present at my training sessions, we work as a team. He has done so much work up to this point that he would desperately want to be there to finish the job. The matter is being dealt with by the Olympic Council of Ireland. They are in consultation with the Atlanta people."
Meanwhile, on the domestic front Leinster PRO, Penny Statham, reports good progress in the Leinster Age Group championships, the first sessions of which took place at the Sports co club in Ringsend last weekend. Obvious stars of the future to impress were Gregory Mandley (Trojan) and Jenny Burke (Aer Lingus) in the under 12 group, and Connor Morris and Emma Leggett (Cormorants) at under 13 level.
