Smith, Michelle (1969–)
Smith, Michelle (1969–)
Irish swimmer. Name variations: Michelle Smith de Bruin (also seen as deBruin or De Bruin). Born Michelle Marie Smith, Dec 16, 1969, in Rathcoole, Co. Dublin, Ireland; graduate of University of Houston, 1992; m. Erik de Bruin (her coach), 1996.
At European championships, won the 200-meter butterfly and indiv. medley, the 1st Irish woman to win European titles in those events (1995); won gold medals for 200-meter indiv. medley, 400-meter free-style, and 400-meter indiv. medley and a bronze medal for 200-meter butterfly at Atlanta Olympics (1996), the 1st Irish competitor to win a swimming medal and the 1st Irish woman to win a medal of any color, and passed all tests when accused of using performance-enhancing drugs; won 2 gold medals at European championships (1997); suspended for 4 years by FINA for tampering with a urine sample (1998); ban upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (1999); retired (1999).