Kiera Aitken was all smiles about her Olympic debut yesterday.

The Bermudian champion swimmer not only won her heat but also fulfilled a quest to break her own national record in the 100 metres backstroke at the Olympic Aquatic Centre in Athens ? slashing the previous mark of one minute, 04.98 seconds by even more than she had predicted.

Despite not advancing in the event, her radiant grin as she exited the pool displayed just how thrilled she was to exceed her own expectations with a time of 1:04.37s in her maiden outing at the Summer Games.

?I am really, really happy with it. I needed to go fast to swim for a (personal) best time and I didn?t let nerves get the best of me,? said Aitken.

?That?s a new record by more than half a second. I was hoping to go around 1:04.50 but this is even better. I knew I could do it. I just had to stay focused.?

The 20-year-old carried out her first mission at this level efficiently, powering to the front from the start and touching ahead of her six rivals at the 50-metre split in 31.60 seconds. Only Thailand?s Chonlathorn Vorathamrong posed any threat of significance but Aitken motored on to a comfortable victory in the second and final lap which she completed in 32.77 seconds.

?The first half was really taking it out (in a) controlled (fashion) and focusing on my stroke and my arms and the second lap was about bringing it home strong with my legs. I was also thinking about keeping my head back,? explained Aitken of her race execution in lane five.

The Olympic newcomer admitted that nerves had got the better of her in the hours leading up to the biggest moment of her youthful career and that she had some trouble getting to sleep on Saturday night.

However, she still had a good rest and was up at 7 a.m. and ready to go after limiting breakfast to a bowl of cereal.

Her performance in the second of six mid-morning heats placed her 31st overall out of 42 competitors and sent her flag-waving personal cheering section, seated above the far end of the open-air facility, into a frenzy.

?I am ecstatic, so elated,? declared Aitken?s mother, Mary-Beth, sitting with her daughter?s godmother Leigh Fubler. ?It?s a great experience. She did very well and I am so proud of her. She swam her best time and she looked very comfortable.

?I am very pleased with her performance. Next time she is going to be in the finals.?

In four years, she hopes the family?s presence will be doubled in the Beijing Olympics as her younger daughter Ashley, who also witnessed her sister?s heroics, is optimistic about her chances of qualifying for either the 50 or 100 metres butterfly.

Should she get another crack at the big time, a confident Aitken is sure she can surpass yesterday?s achievement.

?I think I can come back and have a chance of getting to at least the semis and lower my time by another two seconds,? she estimated.

Coached by David Fry at Dalhousie University in Canada, the Bermudian will take a brief break before diving back into the pool for the varsity season.

Meanwhile, Laure Manaudou of France led those qualifying for the final of Aitken?s event with 1:01.27 in the fourth heat. World record-holder (59.58 seconds) Natalie Coughlin of the USA also advanced to contest the medals with the third-best time of 1:01.45.