Canadian swimming silver medallist and Olympic hopeful Lisa Blackburn is to hold talks with the sports governing body in Bermuda to see if her talents can be put to use here.

Blackburn was born in Bermuda but moved to Canada in the 1970s with her family and now lives in Ottawa.

However, she is a regular visitor as her father Ian has since moved back and other members of her family still reside on the Island.

The 31-year-old, who won two silvers at the Pan Am Games in August and aims to qualify for the 2004 Athens Olympics, applied to swim for her homeland prior to the 1998 Commonwealths but she had already competed internationally for Canada and it is understood a ruling requiring a 12-month hiatus from the sport before commencing competing for another country led to her bid being knocked back.

Bermuda Amateur Swimming Association President Ian Gordon plans to meet up with Blackburn, currently on holiday on the Island, in the near future.

“She had applied for the position of pool administrator when we had advertised that position in June of this year,” said Gordon.

“Subsequently, she has advised us that right now she has withdrawn her application because she is concentrating on participating in the Olympics in Athens for Canada.

“However, we have had some dialogue and I had said to her that I think that somebody with her competitive background and experience in coaching - because she has been doing a significant amount in Canada - would have a great deal to offer the Bermuda Amateur Swimming Association.

“When the time is right for her we would love to talk to her.”

Blackburn said she hoped an opening would be possible.

“Bermuda is my second home and if there's any opportunity there why not seek it out and see what's possible,” she said.

““I have done coaching before in the past and enjoyed it and I love working with kids.

“You spend so much time working on your own personal self-improvement that there are some things you don't really take notice of such as the volunteers and the behind the scenes things, so of course there is that feeling that you have to give back to the sport and to the swimming community.”