Kiera Aiken topped the list of leading swim performances in 2008 following her record-breaking effort at the Beijing Olympics in August along wih a number of long distance national records.

She was named the Island's number one at Bermuda Amateur Swimming Association's prize-giving.

The 24 year-old represented Bermuda in both the 2004 and 2008 Olympics in the 100 metres backstroke and dropped her national record in China by nearly two seconds, clocking 1:2.62

Based in Barcelona, Spain, she also shattered nearly every long course national record in what has proved to be one of her most successful years in the pool.

Julian Fletcher was named the Island's number two after his efforts in the Carifta Games, where he collected two gold medals and broke the 50-metres breaststroke record in a time of 31.05.

Roy-Allan Burch rounded out BASA's top three after smashing the 50 metres freestyle record in a time of 23.05. He also broke the national 100 metres freestyle mark with a time of 51.71.

Like Aitken, he competed in Beijing.

BASA's aquatic manager Ben Smith said he was pleased with the swimming season as a whole and found it difficult to pick out the top performances of the year given the achievements by many individuals.

"BASA had a year of which it can be very proud of," he said. "There were many outstanding performances produced all over the world by a variety of our athletes.

"Although there were other efforts that could have made the list, these are the top 10 performances we have compiled."

TOP TEN

10 Rebecca Heyliger, Sharks Swim Club – Broke the 15-16 age group record in the 50m freestyle at the Bermuda National Swimming Championships. Also competed in the Carifta Games, Alberta Provincial Championships, Junior Worlds in Monterrey, Mexico and the Canadian Age Group Nationals.

9 Nicholas Patterson, Sharks Swim Club – One of the Island's up and coming butterfly swimmers, he broke 50 and 100 records and also won two medals – a silver and a bronze – at the Alberta provincial championships.

8 Jason Mastalir- Sharks Swim Club – In February he broke five Bermuda 17-18 age group records in the 50, 100 and 200 backstroke and the 200 and 400 freestyle. He competed in the 2008 Canadian Age Group Nationals and went through to finals in several events.

7 Ashley Yearwood, Harbour Swim Club – Her best performance of the year was in the 200m fly in the Carifta Games. She shattered her own personal best time by 22 seconds – by six seconds in the heats and a further 16 seconds in the final, earning a silver medal. She was also the youngest member of the Bermuda Youth Worlds team who competed in Monterrey, Mexico.

6 Rebecca Sharpe, Sharks Swim Club – Won two individual silver medals at the Carifta Games in the 100 and 200 backstroke. She broke the age group record twice – in the 200 backstroke by three seconds and the 100 by two seconds. She's currently at Peddie School in New Jersey.

5 Girls 15 and Under Relay Team – Consisting of Rebecca Heyliger, Rebecca Sharpe, Eleanor Gardner and Nicole Yearwood, the team won two Carifta bronze medals in the 4x200 free and the 4x100, setting national records in both.

4 Eleanor Gardner, Harbour Swim Club – Became the third Bermudian female swimmer to go under a minute in the 100 freestyle in a time of 59.62.

3 Roy-Allan Burch, Sharks Swim Club – Based in the US, he smashed both the 50 and 100 freestyle national records.

2 Julian Fletcher, Sharks Swim Club – Broke the 17-18 50m breaststroke record in a time of 31.05 and also beat his previous best time in the 100m breaststroke by an astounding four seconds with a time of 1.09.16. He also bettered his 200m breaststroke personal best by over six seconds.

1 Kiera Aiken, Dolphins Swim Club- – Continued to smash national records throughout the year, culminating with a superb performance in Beijing where she sliced almost two seconds off her 100m backstroke mark, clocking 1:02.65.