The Bermuda swimmers wrapped up their efforts in the same fashion that they started, producing further outstanding performances in the final session at the 1st FINA World Youth Championships in Rio de Janeiro.

In the first event of the evening, Nicholas Thomson competed in the 200-metre backstroke. Taking out the first 100 in a very controlled manner, Thomson powered through the second half, finishing in an excellent time of 2:23.29. This set a new 13-14 age group record, smashing the old mark set by Matthew Hammond 12 years ago, by over 6 seconds.

The final swims by the Bermuda team were the duo of Lara Loescher and Eleanor Gardner in the 200-metre freestyle event. Loescher was in the first heat and finished with a new personal best in 2:24.25. But it was Gardner, following in the second heat, who delivered the goods. Swimming exactly according to plan, she produced a new personal best by three seconds and set yet another new 15-18 age group record of 2:14.96, breaking the previous record set by Kiera Aitken 4 years ago by over a second.

?This is a very young team, with the oldest swimmer not yet 16 and the youngest still 14,? said national coach Richard Goodwin.

?We are competing against some swimmers who are 18 years old. The plan was always to be a realistic one and we set out to produce age group records and personal bests. This we managed with complete success.

?Out of 20 individual swims, 14 of these were personal bests. The swimmers also produced six new age group records between them at this meet. Of particular note and making the comparison, is that Eleanor Gardner and Rebecca Sharpe have just entered the 15-18 age group and they already have set five records, ones that you would expect to be held by 18 year olds.

Gardner has four out of the five freestyle records, owning the 100, 200, 400 and 800 metres; whilst Sharpe who turned 15 a week ago, has the 200 metre backstroke record.

?Thomson, still 14, has the full suite of backstroke records in the 13-14 age group. Loescher, as a sprinter in all of the events, has the toughest row to hoe in breaking the existing records in the 15-18 age group, but has all of the necessary attributes to make this happen over time.

?I am very pleased with the performance of this team in this competition and am confident that they will continue to progress. It is exciting to think about what they are capable of and what they may achieve at the next FINA World Youth Championships in 2008.?