RICE RELINQUISHES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BUTTERFLY SPOT FOR GALVEZ

March 31: TRIPLE Olympic gold medallist Stephanie Rice has relinquished her place in the 100 metres butterfly for this year's FINA World Championships in Rome.

Rice finished second in the recent Telstra Australian Championships to 2005 world champion Jessicah Schipper.

But because the 100m butterfly clashes with her 200m individual medley, she has decided to drop the event from her program, which will see her contest the 200 and 400m individual medley, the 200mn freestyle and the 4x200m freestyle relay.

The vacant 100m butterfly position has gone to reigning FINA World Short Course Champion for 50 and 100m butterfly and duel Olympian Felicity Galvez, who finished third to Schipper and Rice at the Trials - swimming an A qualifying time, with Olympic champion Libby Trickett fourth.

Galvez's elevation to an individual place on the team also sees her AIS-based coach John Fowlie added to the coaching staff.

Australia's National Head Coach Alan Thompson said today: "Stephanie and her coach Michael Bohl discussed the clash of events and concluded that the 100m butterfly would interfere with one of her main events, the 200m individual medley.

"She is the reigning Olympic champion and world record holder in this event and she sees this as one of her pet events," said Thompson.

"It is never an easy decision to give up an individual event but it would have been a tough double."

On the other hand, Thompson said Galvez, who has been one of the most dedicated swimmers on the Australian team over the past five years was "over the moon" when he told her the news.

"She was very excited as was her coach John Fowlie and I am sure she will do a great job for the team," said Thompson.

The Australian selectors made the decision to elevate Galvez to the individual position which has been endorsed by the Swimming Australia Board.