KILLARNEY'S Paul Griffin has expressed bitter disappointment at missing out on the chance to compete at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada in the cross-country skiing discipline.

PJ Barron was selected ahead of Griffin for the only spot available to Ireland in the competition and the Barleymount native seemed very disappointed when he spoke to The Kerryman. "The main reason I'm disappointed is that the Swedish coach, who is the official coach nominated me, but it was the Sports Federation of Ireland who had to make the official nomination to the Olympic Council of Ireland and they nominated PJ Barron. I'm disappointed from that point of view as well as the fact this is something that only two other people have done before, I would have been the first person to have done this in a dual sport," he said.

He admitted that the decision was a tough call for the governing body but feels he has missed out on the opportunity to show that athletes can cross over to another sport successfully in the space of 18 months, however, he said it won't be too painful watching the event on television.

"I'm a sports man after all so I'll just have to move on. The opportunity is gone now and I've taken worse knocks before. You have to be adaptability and be prepared for these things," Griffin said.

While he said he enjoyed his time as a cross country skier he said its unlikely that he'll be able to attempt to compete at the Winter Olympics again in 2014 by which time he will be 34 years-old and he now intends to concentrate on returning to rowing and the lightweight fours team that he has been apart of for the last two Olympics.

"I don't think I'll make a decision on London overnight, I'll just have to get over this and it has been quite bruising. I'll just have to get back into the boat like I have done a few times since last week's announcement and see what transpires on the national scene," he said.

Griffin also stated he intends to get back involved in the local club scene here with Muckross of Killarney, but says he won't take part in the Killarney Regatta. "I did a website for them last year and that's probably as far as I'll go with them. As great and all as an event it is I think I would be better off staying out of it and concentrating on the Olympic rowing which I have two and a half years to get ready for now."

- Jason O'Connor