Michelle Smith ninth in the preliminary swims with only the top eight advancing. Smith did not submit her qualifying time for the 400m freestyle event before the 5 July deadline but did so two days later with the Irish Olympic officials insisting they had been given permission to submit the qualifying time after the deadline. Smith applied for the event after she had arrived in Atlanta. After Smith qualified at the expense of Evans, the US Swimming Federation, supported by the German and Netherlands swimming teams, challenged a decision to allow Smith to compete but were unsuccessful. At a later conference, Evans
Michelle Ray Smith Michelle Ray Smith Michelle Ray Smith (born September 24, 1974) is an American soap opera actress and underwear model. She has been featured in the Victoria’s Secret catalogue, and has been seen nationally in television commercials for Listerine, Noxzema, Oil of Olay, Dannon, and a well-known and recognized spot for Dentyne Ice. She currently resides in Brooklyn, NY. In August 2005, Smith was introduced as a contract player on the daytime soap opera "Guiding Light". She plays Ava Peralta, a newcomer to the fictional town of Springfield. She left the role in July 2008 after the birth of her son,