Australia's dual Olympic sailor Jason Waterhouse has decided not to chase a berth for next year's Paris Games.
Waterhouse has opted to focus on his professional career despite being selected for a looming test event in the Nacra 17 class with his long-time crew mate Lisa Darmanin.
Waterhouse is no longer among Australia's 12-strong team for the event in Marseille from July 9 to 16.
Australian Sailing's high performance director Iain Brambell said he respects the decision of Waterhouse, who with Darmanin won a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and placed fifth at the Tokyo Games in 2021.
"We were very sorry to hear Jason’s decision to step back from Olympic campaigning," Brambell said on Tuesday.
"The Australian sailing team will look to celebrate Jason and his immense contributions to the team in the very near future however our number one priority is now to confirm the best possible selection for the Olympic test event."
Brambell said selectors will review Australia’s Nacra 17 selection for the Marseille regatta - the nation can secure Olympic qualification in the class at the world championships in the Netherlands in August.
Australia's test event team will be spearheaded by Tokyo gold medallist Matt Wearn, who will seek to defend his Olympic title in the ILCA 7 class in the waters of the port city of Marseille.
"Sailing-wise you get a great mix of light sea breezes along with some of the more moderate stuff," Wearn said.
"There are lots of seawalls in a tight bay so there is plenty of chop bouncing back off them making it quite different to the offshore stuff we are used to.”
In the 49erFX class, Olivia Price returns 11 years after claiming Olympic silver in the women’s match racing at the 2012 London Games.
Australia's test event team: 49erFX: Olivia Price and Evie Haseldine; 49er: Jim Colley and Shaun Connor; Women's Formula Kite: Breiana Whitehead; Men's Formula Kite: Scott Whitehead; ILCA 6: Zoe Thomson; ILCA 7: Matthew Wearn; Men's iQFOiL: Grae Morris; Mixed 470: Nia Jerwood and Conor Nicholas; Nacra 17: to be confirmed.
