Buoyed by consistently strong results, Bermuda's Male Athlete of the Year thinks he has as good a chance as anybody of winning a medal - and even gold - at next year's Olympics.

"We're getting the best results out of any individual team on the circuit and I think anybody who rules us out would be crazy. Some might argue that we're peaking too early but I reckon we're just that much further ahead of everybody else," said Peter Bromby yesterday, after winning the Island's top sports prize on Thursday night.

"We are up there on the world stage and there's no reason why we can't win. We're not going there just to make up numbers. We're going to try and win every event we're in and realistically we have a shot."

Noting he has progressed significantly since placing fourth in his speciality - the Star Class - at the 2000 Olympics, the skipper said his campaign has been boosted immensely by sponsorship which "is making a huge difference in our preparation and what we can do".

Attributing his quick qualification for the 2004 Olympics - the pinnacle of his 2002 season - to his development, Bromby said: "We qualified on our first attempt. That was something we didn't do until the final attempt the last time around. I think that says a lot about how we're doing and where we're going."

Still there is much room for improvement and that - along with winning the World Championships - is his main goal this year.

"We'll be working on our boat-handling in the next year and getting coaching which is key. Last time we didn't get any coaching until just two months before the Olympics. We were on a shoestring budget. Coaches cost a lot of money and to get a decent coach you have to be able to afford it.

"We're in a position to afford it this time around so that's what we'll be doing - getting a lot of coaching; a set of eyes from outside the boat."

The man who landed his third Male Athlete of the Year award declared that all Bermuda can take pride in his triumphs as the whole population contributes in some way.

"It's an award that I've been singled out for but it's a team effort in terms of all the help we get financially with ACE as our primary sponsor and Bermuda Container Line that shipped our boat in here to allow us to practise at home. Then there's everybody who buys a Christmas tree from us. Some people have been buying trees from us for over a decade.

"We really are a Bermudian effort and I think we have reached every segment of Bermuda including the average taxpayer who is contributing to us through the Elite Athlete Fund which is a Government grant," noted the 38-year-old who beat triathlete Tyler Butterfield and cyclist Kris Hedges for the annual title.

Bromby, who placed third in last October's Bermuda Gold Cup and was the first local to reach the semifinals, paid special tribute to his crew and other assistants.

"It's fantastic that we're getting such good results but they aren't just happening from stuff I'm doing. It's a big team effort but people don't realise how much goes on behind the scenes.

"First and foremost, I want to thank the crews for their partnership in a lot of these ventures; especially Martin Siese who was with me for most of my Star sailing as well as on my Gold Cup team. He shares this award with me."

Female Athlete of the Year, Paula Lewin has remained steady at 27th place in the ISAF Women's World Match Race Rankings.

Lewin, who has competed in two events, has amassed 2,650 points according to the rankings released on Thursday.

Sweden's Marie Bjorling remains in first place with 10,843 points from eight events.