Irish Amateur Swimming Association the national championship held in 1990 at the Guinness Pool. By the turn of the millennium Ireland still did not have an Olympic-sized pool placing any swimmer training here at an enormous disadvantage at international competition. At the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta Michelle Smith became Ireland's first Olympic medalist in swimming - winning three golds and a bronze. A shadow was cast over these medals when subsequently in 1998 she was banned for 4 years from the sport for tampering with a urine sample using alcohol, during a mandatory out of competition test. In the late 1990s various abuse
1999 Irish Greyhound Derby 1999 Irish Greyhound Derby The 1999 Irish Greyhound Derby took place during August and September with the final being held at Shelbourne Park in Dublin on 18 September 1999. The winner Spring Time won £60,000 and was trained and owned by Gerald Watson and bred by Charles Magill. The race was sponsored by the Ireland on Sunday. At Shelbourne, 18 September (over 550 yards): 3, 3½, 1, 2, ½, head (lengths) Chart King returned to Ireland as the winner of the 1999 English Greyhound Derby and 1999 Scottish Greyhound Derby champion and went into the Irish Derby as the 7-2