MICHELLE SMITH has nob changed her stance on committing herself to this summer's European Championships in Seville and the World Championships in Perth, Australia, next January.
After breaking two Irish long course records over the weekend at the Sarcelles meeting outside Paris, Smith repeated her position after the Leisureland meeting in Galway earlier this year, that she and her husband/coach, Eric de Bruin, would monitor her form before making any decision on the two major international championships.
"I don't know yet if I'll take part in the European championships in Seville or the worlds in Perth, and I don't know when I'll decide," said Smith.
"In any case, I've already qualified. But I'm going to wait and I'll decide depending on my results. If I go to Seville, I'll go to Perth," she added.
Smith won the 800 metres free style on Saturday in 8:52.10, smashing the old 9:04.59 mark, and then won the 100 metres free style yesterday in 57.53, beating the old mark of 57.86. She also took first place the 200 metres medley in 2:20.69.
In yesterday's 100 metres free style, Smith (26) was again up against German world champion Franziska Van Almsick, whom she had beaten into the silver medal position in Atlanta over the same distance.
Van Almsick, who was making a comeback after retiring from the sport after the Olympics, won the 50 metres freestyle, in which Smith did not race, in 27.01.
The German, who holds the long course world record in the 200 metres freestyle, plans to defend her title in Perth.
Smith, who has been training since December, confirmed she still wants to take part in the Sydney Games in 2000, and brushed aside suggestions it would be tough in her late twenties.
Her next meeting is in Belgium in May, and she also plans to participate in the Canet meeting in the south of France later that month.
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