Michelle Smith — our greatest Olympian?

The mixed fortunes of our Irish competitors in the London Olympics has prompted me to write a defence of our most successful Olympian, Michelle Smith de Bruin.

I was living in England when Michelle produced those great performances on that magical July week in 1996. It was a time when the Irish didn’t have much to shout about in international sport — the Charlton era in soccer had just ended, our rugby was in the doldrums; only our great athlete Sonia was flying the international flag with pride.

As soon as Michelle won her three gold and one bronze medal it was claimed her achievements came from nowhere.