Unless there is an exceptional case such as the setting up of a world-class time subsequent to next month's European championships in Helsinki, 11th hour efforts to have the Sydney Olympic swim team increased will be rejected out of hand.
Swim Ireland, in co-operation with the OCI, insist that it's now last-chance saloon stuff for the remaining 13 elite competitors shortlisted for Olympic recognition. Only three, maybe four, of that list have chances of being asked to attend the tailors to be fitted out for Sydney.
Six of the 13 are set to compete in Helsinki where the competition will be electric given that a number of countries are using the event as Olympic trials. Some swimmers, mindful of the demands there, have instead chosen Glasgow where they feel they can perform better. Two additional figures, Graham Beegan and Mark Craig, have been drafted in for the Scottish Open to be staged on the same weekend July 5th-9th.
Beegan and Craig fully merit their late call-ups to try for qualifying times. They both have worked extremely hard at home and abroad in recent years and stand excellent chances of realising full potential.
Freestyler Chantal Gibney has been training full-time in Florida since last year and is poised to improve on her sparkling performance at the US national championships in Seattle in April when trimming Michelle de Bruin's record with 57.48 seconds.
Colin Lowth's chances also give rise to high expectation and Nick O'Hare remains ready to pounce with a serious sprint to confound his critics. Joining Lowth and Gibney is Helsinki will be Julie Douglas, Lee Kelleher and the Robinson sisters, Emma and Louise. Competing in Glasgow will be Andrew Bree, Niamh Cawley, Hugh O'Connor, Michael Williamson, O'Hare, Beegan and Craig.
A strong Leinster team is expected to do well at the Scottish age-groups championships in Edinburgh at the end of the month.
