"Everyone who comes to the Olympic Games has trained hard, but I also think that I train smart."

Michelle Smith, Atlanta July 1996

"It has been a topic of conversation on the pool deck. I have heard that question posed in the last few weeks about that particular swimmer."

US Swimmer Janet Evans, July 1996

"If she is drug free, she's the most amazing athlete since Kristin Otto."

Australian swimmer Elli Overton on Smith

"She is the toughest trainer I ever worked with."

American coach Pierre LaFontaine coached Smith in 1988 and 1990

"She is definitely bigger than she was but at the same time, if you look at pictures of me from the time I left South Africa to the end of my career I probably gained 3040 lbs from heavy weightlifting."

Houston University teammate Helena Finley, July 1996

"I wish they could pull out a picture of her five years ago because no one would recognise her. I can't imagine how she has gained the muscle mass she has and still swims the 100,000 metres a week she is supposedly swimming."

Former Irish national coach Peter Banks, July 1996

"I have a good memory and I think I would remember somebody I swam against in conference and dual meets. It's a little peculiar but who am I to say?"

Former University of Texas swimmer and Olympian Whitney Hedgepath, July 1996

"She has never failed a random drug test by either FINA or the Olympic Council of Ireland. In official documents FINA states she is in good standing with them."

Chalkie White, writing in Swimming World magazine, January 1997

"I'm five-three. I have small hands and feet. I'm not built for swimming. But I don't think anyone worked harder than me. We changed my diet, workweek, sleep, technique, mental attitude."

Michelle Smith to Sports Illustrated, April 1997

"It appears to be a case of two plus two plus two looking awfully like six. The circumstantial evidence is not decisive . . . but it is very strong."

Dr Phillip Whitten, Editor,

Swimming World magazine, August 1996

"The IOC accredited laboratory conducting the analysis reported that unequivocal signs of adulteration were found and that the result was compatible with physical manipulation"

FINA statement on urine sample from de Bruin, April 98

"It's just a tissue of lies. Michelle has no case to answer. The whole thing stinks."

Brian Smith, Michelle's father, April 1998

"I am innocent"

Michelle de Bruin, April 1998

"The alcohol level was so high that you could not survive with that concentration. That's strange. That normally indicates manipulation."

Prince Alexandre de Merode, IOC Medical Chief, April 1998