Six of Ireland's top swimmers will benefit from Olympic Council of Ireland funding when they compete at the Tournament of Nations in Vienna at the weekend.
Exam-tied Colm Lowth, Lee Kelleher and Emma Robinson are unavailable to make use of the funding offer. A 10-strong party including OCI representative Shay McDonald leave today for the short course event which according to national coach, Ger Doyle, is a stepping stone towards the European Sprint Championships at Sheffield in December.
Chosen for the trip from Team 2000 are Adrian and Hugh O'Connor and Paul McCarthy of New Ross. Chantal Gibney (Trojan), Niamh Cawley (Claremorris) and Nick O'Hare who is training in Hamburg. O'Hare is the only full-time swimmer in the party.
The swimmers are certain to qualify for the European tests but with the deadline for the postings of best times fixed for October 31st, the composition of the December squad has yet to be finalised.
The Irish backroom team for Vienna is Betty Beattie of Belfast, Ger Doyle and Carol Walsh apart from OCI observer McDonald. Meanwhile, David Malone a 20year-old Dublin student who trains at the Terenure College club, has won gold at the Para Olympic World championships in New Zealand. Former Olympian Kevin Williamson who coaches Malone said: "He is an inspiration to me and to the rest of my squad".
Malone set a world record of one minute 9.28 seconds while winning the final of the 100 metres backstroke. Half Moon's Ger Dunne just missed making the 100 metres butterfly final.
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