MICHELLE SMITH, the dual European champion, will definitely miss next month's Leisureland international meet in Salthill and the Irish squad training arranged for Arizona.
An agreeable financial arrangement, that would have guaranteed the Irish champion's appearance in Salthill, has not materialised.
Monetary, rather than any perceived technical difficulties, that could possibly disrupt Smith's Olympic preparations, is understood to be the only reason for the breakdown to secure her inclusion.
It had been hoped that the latest staging of the multi nations event would have benefited along similar lines as last year when the Irish star was persuaded to take part.
With Carla Guerts, the European 100 metres silver medalist in Vienna, among the international stars competing the absence of Smith will be felt all the more.
What must be respected, however, is Smith's judgment and that of her coach, in these matters. It is important that she is not lured away from her long course programme at this stage of her Olympic preparations, irrespective of incentives.
Short course competition at this juncture has as much appeal for Smith as altitude training, which means that she will not be joining the rest of the Irish elite squad members in Arizona.
Pre selected Olympian Earl McCarthy and dedicated aspirant Nick O'Hare will be travelling from Germany and America respectively to take part in Salthill. McCarthy will be swimming in the colours of his Hamburg club along with two other German competitors. O'Hare will represent his US club, Phoenix. Also listed for Salthill is Adrian O'Connor but, prior to his challenge here, the New Ross man will pursue his bid for an Olympic qualifying mark at the British Grand Prix meet in Leeds this weekend.
Backstroke champion O'Connor will attempt record times at 50, 100 and 200 metres.
Guerts will be one of a particularly strong Dutch team of 14 and insists that her main aim in Salthill will be to set a new Dutch record for the 100 metres butterfly.
Smith's difficulty in acquiring suitable long course training facilities in Holland has eased but she still plans to switch her training base to the US for an as yet unknown, duration within the next couple of weeks.
Meanwhile, Irish swimmers and coaches will welcome the news that David McCullough's contract as director of swimming has been renewed. The IASA executive have reappointed him for a further two years, up to the World Championships in Perth.
