ONE of the first thoughts to cross Nick O'Hare's mind yesterday, following the announcement that he had been selected to swim for Ireland in the Atlanta Olympics, was that he will be in the sport much longer than he had intended.

"This will keep me in competitive swimming a helluva lot longer than if I had been rejected. Most sprinters don't mature until 25 or 26. I will be there again next time (in Sydney), said the 23 year old. O'Hare accepts the vagaries the 50 metres freestyle event often described as a crazy event by 100 metres men. "Yeah, one mistake and you're gone. That in itself adds to the pressure, the tension and the nerves but, it's a great event."

The Castleknock man flies back to Phoenix tomorrow, to continue training under the guidance of double Olympic gold medalist Troy Dalbey. "I hope to be competing in North Carolina at the US Grand Prix events in a few days. The injury to my back has recovered well," he says. Another gala in the US Grand Prix series is pencilled in for the following weekend, this time at Santa Clara.

O'Hare's inclusion brings the numerical strength of the Irish swim team for Atlanta to five. Michelle Smith, Marion Madine, Earl McCarthy and Adrian O'Connor had already been named.