So, context being the sum of all things, the USA team for the FINA World Short-Course Championships in Olympic year brings instant perspective: no Phelps, no Coughlin, no Peirsol, no Hansen, no Crocker, no Zeigler (etc) ... no world championship (or perhaps one in name only). Uncomfortable - but true.

The event, in Manchester next April, will doubtless witnesses some fast and thrilling moments but the championships will continue to be a pale and sickly cousin of its long-course equivalent in quality, depth and competitiveness. As far as the Olympic arena is concerned, comparison is pointless. Two separate worlds.

There are those, however, who will race at both and excel. Ryan Lochte is a case in point. He will defend the titles he won in Shanghai and take on the sprinters over 50m freestyle. I wouldn't bet against him. The only other former Olympic team members are 1,500m man Larsen Jensen, breaststroke sprinter Mark Gangloff, world champion Margaret Hoelzer and butterfly sprinter Rachel Komisarz.

Other names who will challenge for gold are Jessica Hardy, Mary DeScenza, Randall Bal and Jessica Rodriquez. The team was selected on the basis of the yards s/c nationals (which served as no more than a domestic training test for Phelps and co) and availibility and thus contains swimmers who are not ranked among the world top 50 long-course in some of the events they are swimming in the short-course pool.

The USA team:

MEN
Nathan Adrian Bremerton, Wash. / Tacoma 100, 200 freestyle
Randall Bal Fair Oaks, Calif. / Coral Springs Swim Club 50, 100 backstroke
Chris DeJong Holland, Mich. / Club Wolverine 200 freestyle, 200 backstroke
Mark Gangloff Akron, Ohio / Mecklenburg Aquatic Club 100, 200 breaststroke
Ryan Hurley Potomac, Md. /Curl Burke Swim Club 200 breaststroke
Larsen Jensen Bakersfield, Calif. / Trojan Swim Club 400, 1500 freestyle
Ryan Lochte Daytona Beach, Fla. / Daytona Beach Swimming 50 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 100 breaststroke, 200, 400 medley
Bryan Lundquist Marietta, Ga. / Stingrays 50, 100 freestyle
Robert Margalis Flushing, N.Y. / Athens Bulldog Swim Club 1500 freestyle, 400 medley, 400 freestyle, 200 butterfly
Peter Marshall Atlanta, Ga. / Stanford Swimming 100 backstroke
Randall Tom Wailuku, Hawaii / Maui Swim Club 100, 200 butterfly
Doug Van Wie Charlotte, N.C. / Mecklenburg Aquatic Club 200 medley
Nick Walkotten Hudsonville, Mich. / Trinity Prep Aquatics 100 butterfly
WOMEN (13)
Mary Beck Austin, Texas / Longhorn Aquatics 200 medley
Maggie Bird Muncie, Ind. / Auburn Aquatics 400, 800 freestyle
Kara Denby Simi Valley, Calif. / Auburn Aquatics 100 freestyle
Mary Descenza Naperville, Ill. / Athens Bulldog Swim Club 200 butterfly, 100, 200 backstroke, 200, 400 freestyle, 200 medley
Jessica Hardy Long Beach, Calif. / Trojan Swim Club 100 breaststroke, 50 freestyle
Margaret Hoelzer Huntsville, Ala. / Mecklenburg Aquatic Club 100, 200 backstroke, 100, 200 butterfly
Rachel Komisarz Louisville, Ky. / Lakeside Swim Team 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly
Erin Reilly Frankfort, Ill. / Lincoln Way Swim Association 200 freestyle
Jessica Rodriquez Aurora, Co. / Longhorn Aquatics 400 medley, 800 freestyle
Emily Silver Bainbridge Island, Wash. / Cal-Aquatics 100 freestyle
Julie Stupp St. Louis, Mo. / Coral Springs Swim Club 400 medley
Elizabeth Tinnon Bowling Green, Ky. / Lakeside Swim Team 100, 200 breaststroke
Elle Weberg Bloomington, Minn. / Florida Atlantic Swim Team 200 breaststroke

Until the calendar is sorted out and leading nations feel is worthwhile and possible to field their best (or even second-best) teams, the world short-course championships will remain a side-show in the foothills of the sport. The decision to go in March was questionable in pure swimming terms. It is down to the guardians of swimming (and that means the federations that make up FINA not just those who lead FINA) to come up with workable solutions. Why not link the world s/c championships to the world cup series, for example, using the event as the climax of a series that offers big prize money? That would have seen the event staged long after Beijing - and the entry would probably have benefitted as a result.