Bermuda's swimmers go into international competition at a disadvantage because the Island has no 50-metre pool, says record-breaking Ronald Cowen.

Cowen (pictured), who has set new swimming standards this year by shattering a string of national records, added an Olympic-sized facility was essential if Bermuda wanted to realise the enormous potential in the local swimming scene.

"Bermuda is loaded with talent," said Cowen. "When you look at Roy-Allan Burch, Kiera and Ashley Aitken, Cori Bulford, Michael Johnson and many more, we have some great swimmers.

"But personally, as far as competing on the world stage goes, our facilities are not good enough.

"Our gyms are very good, but we just need a 50-metre pool, preferably with a weights facility situated near it.

"We need to prepare our kids for international competition and we can only do that with a 50-metre pool.

"Everyone else in the world seems to have about six 50-metre pools within 100 miles. If ACE or XL can build a pool in their own building, then Bermuda can afford a 50-metre pool."

Such a pool is part of the plans for phase two of the National Sports Centre, but with swimming traditionally a sport with a low retirement age, that may be a little late for Cowen.

The 20-year-old competed in the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, earlier this month, where he was up against the likes of the powerful Australian and US teams.

There, Cowen bettered his own national record in the 100 metres freestyle by 1.6 seconds, as he clocked 54.65. And he also set a new personal best in the 200 metres freestyle.

And last weekend Cowen shattered three more national records in a remarkable performance at the Harbour Open Championships. The new marks came in the 100m and 200m backstroke (in 59.55 seconds and 2:07.29 respectively) and the 100m individual medley (1:00.31).

Cowen said the Worlds, where both he and team-mate Graham Smith managed to finish in the top two thirds of almost all their events, had been a great experience.

"It's a little intimidating when you get in the pool for the first and second time in a big international competition like that," said Cowen.

"The Pan Am Games (in Winnipeg, Canada in 1999) was my breaking-in point and eventually you realise that your opponents are just average people.

"In Japan I would not say I was intimidated by people like (Australians) Ian Thorpe and Michael Klimm. They're just ordinary people who happen to be able to swim very fast."

Cowen, a member of the Dolphins club, has been swimming for 10 years under the tutelage of coaches Duncan Newby and his mother Kathy Cowen.

His weekly training schedule - consisting of an average 13 sessions, nine in the pool and four with weights - is testament to his passion for the sport, as is the fact that he is often surging through the water by 5.30 a.m.

Only extraordinary dedication in the long term has got Cowen to the standard where he is smashing national records galore.

For example, three years ago, he broke a leg in a road accident but was back in the water before his plaster cast was removed.

"I have not taken a full break from swimming since I started," said Cowen.

Next year's Commonwealth Games in Manchester are likely to provide Cowen with his next big assignment on the world stage.