In hindsight Andrew Bree, Ireland's best hope of success, may have bitten more than he could chew on the first day of the European Short Course Swimming Championships at the National Aquatic Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin today.
The 22-year-old was in flying form recording a brace of national records in the morning heats of the 100m and 200m medley. In the 100m Bree clocked a time of 59.98 and in the 200m he knocked 0.75 of his own record with a time of 1:58.42.
The 1.62 seconds Bree knocked of his 100m record was a particular highlight as he also became the first Irishman to break the one minute barrier.
However, in this afternoon's semi-finals Bree's hectic schedule finally caught up with him. His time of 1:00.26 in the 100m semi, for 11th place, was 0.27 seconds slower than the qualifying time needed to make the final.
With just 15 minutes before his next race Bree then attempted the 200m medley semi and finished last in 2:03.06, almost five seconds slower than his morning time in the same discipline.
Bree still has a chance to impress in Sunday's 200m breaststroke.
Elsewhere, Emma Robinson swam a fine heat in the women's 50m breaststroke (31.53) this morning to knock 0.10 seconds off her Irish record. Despite her own personal improvement she could only manage 10th in the semis as the top eight progressed to the final.
There was further disappointment for the other Irish swimmers in action in Abbotstown. Michael Williamson swam in a time of 1:02.23 in the 100m breaststroke heats but failed to make the required mark to advance.
Belfast's Melanie Nocher also missed out in the women's 100m backstroke, finishing in 37th place with a time of 1:04.26.
Chantal Gibney and Julie Douglas who both failed to progress in the women's 100m freestyle. Their respective times of 55.98 and 56.04 left them in 34th and 35th place.
Claire Hogan missed out in the women's 200m individual medley after finishing 30th, while Stephen Manley missed out in the men's 400m freestyle. Muiris O'Riada (54.66) and Donal O'Neill (55.41) dropped out of the 100m butterfly heats, finishing 34th and 37th respectively.