THE more discerning judges in Irish swimming have realised by now that they have not got to look far to find another Michelle Smith possibly in the making.
Leonore Kelleher of the City of Cork club, best known as Lee to her friends and to anyone on the junior international circuit, has achieved another first by securing a place at the renowned Millfield School in Hampshire.
The school boasts a high success rate in many areas of sport and most important, from an Irish viewpoint, its facilities include a 50-metres Olympic standard pool.
The alma mater of Duncan Goodhew, Britain's gold medal winner at the Moscow Olympics, became interested in Irish junior champion Kelleher when she was competing for the Irish schools team in the four-nations meet last January. She enrolls on the basis of a part-scholarship later this month.
The Cork girl celebrated the move yesterday when named in the IASA's elite team of 19 swimmers, including Michelle Smith and the rest of the Atlanta party.
She is thought to be the biggest prospect to arrive on the Irish swimming scene since Smith set the ultimate in standards. A cursory glance at the Irish junior records reveals that she has broken times inspired by Smith as a junior of similar calibre.
Eddie Campion, one of the most authoritative figures in Munster and Irish swimming for decades, considers Kelleher to be the most exciting competitors to emerge, certainly in Munster, in many years. "It is a great opportunity for Lee," says Campion. She has undoubted talents to benefit from free daily access to a 50-metres pool."
Even allowing for the low profile nature of this year's National championships she competed against seniors, not in Atlanta, to win six gold medals. Now, she targets next year's European junior championships as her immediate aim to make her biggest impact to date.
At the corresponding championships in Copenhagen some weeks ago, she trimmed many Irish records and reached finals.
She was an automatic choice for the elite team, dubbed Team 2000, with the World short course championships in Perth and the Sydney Olympics in mind.
But a surprise omission is Ciarain Kearney of Limerick who failed to make the qualifying mark. IASA secretary Celia Millane says: "The team will no doubt change over the next four years with some additions and some drop-outs.
Apart from competing in British and European events, long course training at home, combined with technique work and testing, will play a large part in the programme. The director of Irish swimming, David McCullough will be in constant touch with members of the team and their coaches. Special attention will be given to individual swimmer's plans.
