Jesse Washington feels ready to fill the void left by Roy-Allan Burch and Julian Fletcher as he eyes his first major international event.

Bermuda’s top two swimmers hung up their goggles in January, Burch because of injury and loss of funding, while Fletcher has pursued a professional career outside of the pool.

Washington has long looked up to both Burch and Fletcher and hopes to follow in their slipstream by testing himself against the best swimmer’s in the world.

The 18-year-old has set his sights on qualifying for the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Australia, in April next year.

Up first, though, is the Commonwealth Youth Games in Bahamas in two weeks, where Washington hopes to reach several finals.

“I’m definitely looking to follow in the footsteps of Roy-Allan Burch and Julian Fletcher,” Washington said.

“I’m aiming for the Commonwealth Games; that’s the next level for me. I’ll be working towards that and hopefully it will be my first major international meet.”

The Warwick Academy student will compete in the 50 and 100 metres freestyle, as well as the 50 and 100 butterfly in the Bahamas.

“I went to the Youth Olympics in 2014 [Nanjing, China] so I know what to expect and I’ve seen the results from previous years,” he said.

“Hopefully I’ll be getting a second swim and reach the finals. I’ll be going for the A finals, of course.”

Washington was part of a successful campaign for Bermuda at the Central American and Caribbean Championships in Trinidad & Tobago, winning silver medals in the 50 and 100 freestyle, as well as the 50 butterfly.

Bermuda clinched a fourth-place finish in the medals table, capturing a total of 38 medals — 12 gold, 17 silver and nine bronze — as well as winning the under-11 and 12 girls categories.

“I went to the meet unshaved and not that rested and came out with a few personal bests, so it’s lining up well for the Youth Commonwealth Games,” Washington said.

“Leading up to [CCCAN] I was feeling pretty strong and I knew I could go down there and get those personal bests and the medals followed.”

Washington competed in his final regional youth competition at the Carifta Games in the Bahamas in April.

The former Junior Male Athlete of the Year signed off in style, bagging three medals, four age-group records and a Carifta record.

Madelyn Moore, who also won medals at Carifta, will join Washington at the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas.

“There’s a lot of good youngsters coming through in Bermuda right now,” Washington added. “I think it’s down to the coaching of Ben Smith and Richard Goodwin.”