Sydney Olympian Andrew Bree declined automatic selection for this week's World Swimming Championships in Japan in order to concentrate on the Irish Open championships beginning tomorrow in Lisburn.
Bree is back in Ireland on holidays from his US university while his Sydney team-mates, Chantal Gibney and Emma Robinson, are at the world tests.
"I decided to rest from big-time international competition this year, and instead compete here at home as part of my overall preparation for the Commonwealth Games next season," said Bree.
The 20-year-old Ards swimmer is poised to make a clean sweep of titles from freestyle to breaststroke. He will be making attempts on Gary O'Toole's breaststroke record times and intends to attack another 10-year- old record set by Ken Turner at 200 metres free-style.
Bree's form in the recent Ulster championships suggests he can achieve his many targets, which also include new individual medley records.
Donal O'Neill and Muiris ╙ Riada of Trojans are near-certain medal winners. For the first time in 12 years a New Ross O'Connor will not be winning backstroke titles. Adrian and brother Hugh will not be competing.
Cork's Lee Kelleher and Niamh Cawley of Claremorris are set to dominate the women's events before setting off for the World Students Games in Beijing.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)