What do you mean if she didn't have other swimmers helping its likely she wouldn't have placed 5th? Are you saying that she cheated? I am confused by achieving the 5th place by herself...surely she had the support of her family, coaching and the swimming federation but at the end of the day...its Charlene in the pool.
Whether or not she placed 5th at the Olympics, or didn't make the team in 2004 and 2008 does not discount the fact that she is an Olympian. And its not like she is an ice skater from the Bahamas who is also a dual US citizen (not trying to diss anyone from the Bahamas or anything). She is an Olympian...that in itself is nothing to sneeze at or minimize the achievement. Whether or not many people think that making the Olympic team is or is not a big deal....I bet the swimmer in South Africa who didn't make the team....thinks its a very BIG deal.
She is an Olympian just like Inaki, Albert, Sofia, Anne, Michael Phelps, etc.