The largest national swimming team ever to represent Bermuda flew out yesterday for a two-tier trip which will take the squad first to an Olympic camp in Orlando, Florida and then on to the Caribbean International Swimming Championships in Jamaica.

All of the Island's top swimmers are included in the team of 24 - some of them making their final attempt to qualify for this summer's Olympic Games in Athens.

So far, Kiera Aitken is the only member of the team to have booked her ticket to Greece, although Ronald Cowen is hoping to get a wild card.

However, at the Caribbean meet in Kingston, Jamaica, Cowen will be aiming to make the qualifying standard to ensure his selection as will Graeme Smith.

Others who are expected to perform well include Roy-Allen Burch, Scott Simmons and Michael O'Connor, while national coach Richard Goodwin said yesterday he was excited over the future of a group of 11 and 12 year-olds (three boys and four girls) who were also in the current squad.

Working with two top American coaches, the Bermuda swimmers will gear up for the Caribbean Championships at a three-day Olympic level camp in Orlando.

Then it's on to Jamaica where the five-day competition gets underway on July 2, finishing on July 7.