WHEN Bermuda swimmers Kiera Aitken and Roy-Allan Burch compete at this summer’s Pan American games in Rio de Janeiro, in the back of their minds will be the thought that they could qualify for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.But as national coach Richard Goodwin said this week: “It is harder and harder to qualify for the Olympics now. The qualifying standards are so high.”

Although Aitken, who competed at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, qualified for the Pan Am Games during last year’s Commonwealth Games, Burch just qualified for Rio at last month’s FINA World Championships in Melbourne, Australia.

And in qualifying for the 100 metres free, Burch broke the Bermuda record with an excellent swim of 0:52.40.

“This will be the first time both Aitken and Burch will have the opportunity to attempt to meet the stringent qualification standards set by FINA for next year’s Olympic Games in Beijing,” said Goodwin.

While Burch broke the Bermuda record in his speciality while at the Worlds, Aitken also broke her own Bermuda record last weekend in Spain where she has been living and studying since last September.

Aitken, who had a sterling career at Dalhousie University in Canada, competed in the Spanish National Championships in Barcelona and her time in the preliminaries of 2:24.18 in the 200 metre backstroke established a new Bermuda record, eclipsing her previous time by nearly two seconds.

Last week, at the age group level, 13 swimmers competed at the Carifta Swimming Championships in Kingston, Jamaica, capturing four medals and setting over 20 age group records. The team performance was highlighted by 12-year-old Ashley Yearwood as she took silver medals in the 100 and 200 metre freestyle events and set six records in her age group. Morgan Hopkins, also competing in the girls 11 and 12 age group, earned a bronze medal in the 200 metres breaststroke. The medal haul was rounded out by Rebecca Heyliger who took the bronze medal in the 50 metre freestyle event in the girls 13 and 14 age group.The entire team competed with distinction, setting many new personal bests, but the most significant result was that three swimmers made the qualification standards for the upcoming Island Games to be held this July in Rhodes. Sisters Nicole and Ashley Yearwood, along with Julian Fletcher successfully made the necessary times, allowing them to be eligible for selection for the Island Games team.

Goodwin said: “It is remarkable that a 12-year-old swimmer, Ashley Yearwood, has been successful in reaching these standards. It essentially means she is competing at a level four years beyond her actual age. These are times that 16-year-olds try to achieve.”

Prior to leaving for the Island Games, the Bermuda Amateur Swimming Association will be hosting their Summer Age Group Championships and capping that with the National Championships in June. From there, the intent is to return to the Alberta Provincial Age Group Championships in Edmonton in the first week of July. Finally, for a select few, which includes the Yearwoods and Fletcher; there will be the opportunity to compete at the Canadian Age Group Championships later that month in Quebec.

Goodwin added: “This meet will attract the very best young swimmers in Canada and it is exceptional that we have been invited, as well as that we have swimmers of this calibre who have made the requisite and very stringent standards.”