Promised land within reach for Smith

WHO can stop her? An Australian, a Japanese, an American and a couple of Chinese of varying shapes and sizes will be among those warily entering the Georgia Tech Aquatic Centre today but, in their minds, the battle could already be over.

Michelle Smith, it seems, is unbeatable when it really matters. And tonight matters, a lot.

The tepid waters of the 10 lane pool, protected by a skimpy roof with the stark Atlanta skyline intruding through the gaping hole at one end of the structure, have proven less a battle ground and more a temple of worship, to celebrate one Smith success after another.

One by one, the titles have been annexed by the Dub liner who, in her own words, "gave her heart and soul" to the pursuit of glory. She has reaped a rich reward. The 400 metres individual medley, the 400 metres freestyle, and the 200 metres individual medley. On three occasions, she has been ushered out on to the victory podium to utter every word, every nuance of Amhrann na bhFiann as, each time the Irish tricolour has been raised to the rafters.

Tonight, Smith finally reaches the promised land. The last post. And, ironically, it's her strongest event the 200 metres butterfly. There is more than just victory to aim for this time. Another win is her main target, but such success would equal Kristin Otto's four golds at Seoul in 1988.

And, of course, there is Mary T Meagher's world record of two minutes 05.96 seconds, which has stood for 15 years. Can she beat it? I'm not here to beat records. I'm here to win medals," she stated. Still, it would be a nice way to put the icing on the cake. Smith, however, would have to swim six seconds faster than she has ever swam before in the butterfly.

Still, a fourth gold medal appears within her scope. Smith's competitors are running scared, that's for sure. Japan's Kashima Hitomi, a 16 year old competing in her first Olympics, has the fastest time in the world this year, with Susan O'Neill, a bronze medallist in this event in Barcelona four years ago, next fastest.

Hitomi is a fast improving swimmer. When she recorded 2:08.69 earlier in the season it meant a six second improvement in the space of three years and a dramatic five second improvement in less than a year. It remains to be seen, however, if she can reproduce such form in the heat of Olympic competition.

O'Neill, for her part, has been a little disappointing in these Games and a question mark hangs over her ability to repeat the time of 2:08.78 she achieved in the Australian trials. The 22 year old's prospects of a first Olympic gold could also be hindered by the fact she has competed in three relay races in the past week, apart from her individual commitments.

And, then, there are the Chinese. The great imponderables of Atlanta 96. Everyone expected them to walk away with a sackful of medals. Instead, all they have managed to do is flounder with the exception of Jingyi Le who captured gold on the first day in the women's loo metres freestyle.

On this occasion, Yun Qu, an 18 year old member of the Chinese army, and Limin Liu will attempt to halt Smith's march. The pair are ranked in the top four by FINA on times but, as the Chinese have shown, times achieved in their national trials in March have had little or no relevance in Atlanta.

The main American challenger is likely to be Trina Jackson, who was runner up in the American trials to Annette Salmeen. Both are in the 200 metres butterfly field here, but Jackson, apparently, has been showing the better form since their national championships. However, given the manner in which Smith has overcome the US challengers in her previous events, she shouldn't have too much to fear.

Indeed, if Smith swims to her full potential as she has been doing so since first plunging into the Atlanta pool it would not be placing too heavy a burden on her shoulders to expect another gold medal.

"I don't feel any pressure on me to win a fourth gold medal, none at all," said Smith. I'm not here to break anybody's record. I'm just here to do my best and swim fast. I really enjoy competing. I'm enjoying myself."

The Irish woman has come on remarkably since first competing in the Seoul Olympics her first international event and, major then, Barcelona, where she competed with a back injury. She was later diagnosed as having two degenerative disks in her back. I'll have them all my life. The only sport that I am really allowed to do is swimming, so I'm lucky," she said.

But the pool at Atlanta `96 belongs to her. And everything points towards another golden moment for Smith to savour tonight.