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Gold: A Triple Champions Story
Book by Smith, Michelle, Dervan, Cathal
192 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 16, 2020
Michelle Smith- v interesting story.
Her time improvements were huge for an elite athlete . When combined with her relatively advanced age, it made her rivals suspicious.
She had, however, changed her whole approach to training when her fiancée/ husband Erik de Bruin became her coach. He brought in ideas of strength training and pacing from athletics... but ultimately fuelled the suspicions because, as a former discus thrower, he had been banned for doping.
They were very private, not really part of a club, kept themselves apart from the Dutch and Irish swim scenes. Quite secretive, not wanting competitors to know what times she was racing. She was quite an aggressive game player- at his instigation.
This book finishes before the scandal over Smith's contaminated sample cast a shadow over all her accomplishments. It's impossible to know the truth about her or her husband's involvement in doping.
Writer makes some irritating errors- misspelling names It's Sharron Not Sharon Davies. Anita Lonsbrough not Longsborough.
He even quotes Smith allegedly talking about her tumble turn --in a long course 200IM!!!
Her time improvements were huge for an elite athlete . When combined with her relatively advanced age, it made her rivals suspicious.
She had, however, changed her whole approach to training when her fiancée/ husband Erik de Bruin became her coach. He brought in ideas of strength training and pacing from athletics... but ultimately fuelled the suspicions because, as a former discus thrower, he had been banned for doping.
They were very private, not really part of a club, kept themselves apart from the Dutch and Irish swim scenes. Quite secretive, not wanting competitors to know what times she was racing. She was quite an aggressive game player- at his instigation.
This book finishes before the scandal over Smith's contaminated sample cast a shadow over all her accomplishments. It's impossible to know the truth about her or her husband's involvement in doping.
Writer makes some irritating errors- misspelling names It's Sharron Not Sharon Davies. Anita Lonsbrough not Longsborough.
He even quotes Smith allegedly talking about her tumble turn --in a long course 200IM!!!
September 27, 2012
A compelling story of how one young girl became one of the world's greatest swimming olympians, winning three gold and one bronze at the 1996 Atlanta games. Despite allegations that she had taken steroids,it was never proven. Her records stand, but it is shameful in that she is almost never mentioned anymore. She is treated by the rotten Irish media as if she doesnt exist. However, if you can find a copy of this book, enjoy the read.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews