PENTLAND, the sportswear products group which owns the Speedo swimwear company, is hoping that the prestige factor from its association with Ireland's triple gold medal swimmer Michelle Smith will continue to make swimming costumes move even faster from sales racks.

Although sales at Speedo have been buoyed by Michelle's success, overall half-year profits slipped 18 per cent to £11.5 million. The distinctive style of swimwear favoured by Michelle has proved a particularly strong seller to those wishing to emulate their heroine in the pool. Pentland's poor figures are attributed to losses from the newly-acquired Mitre football company and heavy promotional spending to bolster the group's image at the Atlanta Olympics.