Sonia's close encounter

Sonia O'Sullivan had a close-encounter with Gabriela Szabo

Sonia O'Sullivan's Olympic build-up has included a close-encounter with one of her major 5000m rivals.

The Irishwoman was warming down after a training session on the resort island of South Strovboke off the Gold Coast when a charging Gabriela Szabo sped past her.

Szabo, despite some recent indifferent runs by her high standards, is favourite for the 5K and O'Sullivan reckoned the Romanian was "trying to make some kind of statement''.

"My first inclination was to go after her but then I realised that the only place to do the fast running here is in the Olympic Stadium,'' said O'Sullivan.

Lisburn swimmer Andrew Bree competes on Saturday

The Irish star spent the final stage of her pre-Olympic build-up as a guest of former Australian running great Ron Clarke on the island of South Strovboke.

On Monday September 11, she travelled to the nearby British training camp to have a discussion with her coach Alan Storey. "We discussed the races at Runaway Bay last Sunday and agreed that it was very satisfying all round,'' said O'Sullivan.

Ireland's big medal hope will stay in the Olympic village rather than the swanky hotels which many world-class athletes prefer.

Ulster swimmers

Meanwhile, Ulster swimmers Andrew Bree and Emma Robinson are two of Ireland's early Olympic competitors.

Bree competes in the 100 Breaststroke on Saturday which he will largely use as a warm-up for the 200m on Tuesday.

The Lisburn man's 100m best is 1.04.58 and he will be hoping to get close to Gary O'Toole's national record of 1.04.15.

The 100m breaststroke could see the 60 second barrier broken for the first time.

Emma Robinson is in the Olympic Pool on Sunday

Coleraine's Emma Robinson competes in the women's 100m Breaststroke on Sunday.

Robinson who qualified for the 50m European Final earlier this season has an outside chance of qualifying for the semi-finals.

Ireland's lone boxer at the games, Corkman Michael Roche has landed a tough first round draw in his Light-Middleweight division.

Roche will take on Turk Sirat Karagollu who won the 1994 European Junior Championships.

My first inclination was to go after her but then I realised that the only place to do the fast running here is in the Olympic Stadium

  Sonia O'Sullivan on rival Gabriela Szabo

Meanwhile, the first Irish competitors in action at the Games will be Trap Shooters Derek Burnett and David Malone on Saturday.

Both hope to qualify for Sunday's final.