Coach David Fry today paid tribute to Bermuda’s record-breaking swimmers who both finished their Pan-Am Games with national-best times under their belts.

Kiera Aitken shattered the national record in the 50 metre freestyle last week with a time of 27.67 seconds, while Roy Allan Burch also broke the Island’s record at the same distance with 23.77.

Aitken marginally missed out on another personal-best in the 200m backstroke semi-finals at the weekend. The 23-year-old finished 10th overall with a time of two minutes, 24.24 seconds in her final race in Rio.

David Fry said both performers should return to the Island proud of their performances at an extremely competitive Pan-Am Games.

“Both swimmers achieved life-time best times and that’s indicative that things went well in Rio,” said Fry who has coached Aitken since 2003 at university in Canada.

“Kiera broke the 50m freestyle national record and was one tenth of a second off her personal best in the 200m backstroke.

“I know she was a little disappointed with her 100m backstroke as she had hoped to achieve a qualifying time for the Beijing Olympics next year.”

Fry, who hails from Canada, also praised Burch who has trained alone since the World Championships in March.

“Roy also had a positive overall performance and broke the national record in the 50m freestyle. Unfortunately his 100m was a little off the time he went in the World Championships. “I think both swimmers will re-evaluate their displays and have a four to six week break before they look ahead to the Olympics.

“Pan-Am was very strong in the pool with the Brazilians particularly competitive as well as the US and Canada.

“But it was a great experience for both athletes who certainly rose to the occasion.”

Aitken, who is heading to the north of Brazil for a vacation, admitted she was disappointed with her 100m backstroke as it was her main discipline.

She finished fourth in her semi-finals heat with a time of 1.05.93, which was slower than she had hoped.

“I’m a little disappointed with my performances in Pan-Am, although my 50m freestyle was good and I was delighted to break the national record — I don’t race that distance very often.

“But I would’ve liked to have gone better in the 100m backstroke semi-finals where I didn’t perform as well as I can,” added Aitken who carried Bermuda’s flag in the Opening Ceremony at the Maracana Stadium.

“I think mentally I could have been in better shape. There are a few reasons for that and an obvious one is that it’s been quite cold in Rio.

“At the weekend it was hot and I felt more relaxed but sometimes when it’s cooler I tense up and that effects my race.

“I had hoped to go under 1.05 in the 100m but I was just over. I had a really good race time at the Athens Olympics in 2004 and I’d hoped to achieve something here. Hopefully I will get a chance in Beijing in next summer.”