Sensitive 11th hour talks that could lead to the granting of accreditation for her coach and husband Eric de Bruin is a primary concern for Michelle Smith ahead of the European championships in Seville next week.
An explanation and an apology is being sought from de Bruin by Harm Beyer, secretary of the European Swimming Federation (LEN), as to why de Bruin "violated our rules" when applying for accreditation for the 1995 European championships in Vienna, at which Smith won two gold medals.
De Bruin is going to meet Beyer but it is not certain if the coach is prepared to make an apology to the LEN official.
Smith says she would have problems in the event of her husband not being granted accreditation for access to the pool deck. In an event of this magnitude it would be unthinkable for an elite competitor to be denied close proximity to a personal coach before and after races.
What is in Smith's favour in all of this is her proven ability to improvise and go without the presence of a coach on the deck. A similar situation obtained for her at the outset of her conquests in the Hong Kong World cup series in 1994.
Smith may accompany national coach Ger Doyle and the rest of the Irish team for the trip to Seville on Saturday but she might change her mind and travel earlier, on her own, with a view to acquiring more long course practice.
It is not certain at this stage if de Bruin is going to accede to Beyers requirements or, instead, settle for a seat in the stands. Opting for the latter, his involvement would be restricted to supervising Smiths training sessions. Although the IASA applied for his accreditation de Bruin is not a member of the Irish party which includes eight swimmers a coach a manager and a physio.
IASA secretary Celia Millane said yesterday: "We applied for accreditation some time ago and we can only hope that he will be in a position to pick it up when he gets there which is the norm for swimmers and coaches."
National coach Ger Doyle said: "As far as I am concerned if Michelle needs Eric to produce the goods well, then we should go out of our way to make sure that Eric is there for her. I believe that Michelle is going out with the team but I am not certain if whether Eric is going out or not, yet".
Doyle added: "I look upon it in a practical sense, Eric and Michelle are a unit. They work very well together. I will give them any support or assistance they need. If Eric is not there I will look after whatever has to be done but I am assuming that Eric will be there at some stage".
The IASA have also made a late entry, at Smith's request, for the 100 metres butterfly which brings her total number of entered events to seven.
She has an option to compete on the first day of the championships, next Tuesday, in the 400 metres IM
Doyle said: "Michelle can be expected to be selective this time. She is unlikely to swim in as many events as she did in Atlanta. I feel that the events she does swim in she will do exceptionally well". The 200 metres butterfly short course record at the weekend indicates to Doyle that Smith will put the event at the top of her list. "Her time was excellent and she is on form," he said. In all, Smith is entered for seven events, the 200m, 400m and 800m freestyles. The 200 and 400 IM's and the 200m and 100m butterfly.
The short course 200 metres European record of 2;07.04 which she set in Cork at the weekend compares favourably with the long course record of 2;07.82 currently held by Germany's Cornilia Polit. Smith transfers comfortably from short to long course and in the event seems well poised for an excellent swim at the distance in Seville.
The current European records in the other events in which Smith competes are freestyles; 200 (1;56.78, Franziska Van Almsick, Germany), 400 and 800 (4;05.84 and 8;19.53 both held by Anke Moehring, Germany). The 200 and 400 individual medleys (2;11.73 and 4;36.10, held by Germany's Ute Geweniger and Petra Schneider). Butterfly; 100 metres - 59.00 secs, Kristin Otto Germany)
Doyle's realistic hopes for the championships are for Smith to win medals and for two other swimmers, Nick O'Hare and Adrian O'Connor to reach "B" finals. "They are capable of reaching "B" finals. I would be ecstatic if they reached "A" finals," he says.
The New Ross-based coach would settle gladly for personal best swims in the morning heats for his remaining five competitors, Hugh O'Connor, Chantal Gibney, Michael Giles, Paul McCarthy and Colin Lowth.
A lower age restriction keeps Lee Kelleher out of the championships but this could prove a blessing in disguise for the young City of Cork competitor. She has competed at the Youth Olympics and at the European Junior championships this season.
