Veteran Bermuda swimmer Chris Smith swept gold medals in all six of his events at the Quebec Masters Championship at Laval University in Quebec City last weekend.

The 72-year-old?s best performance came in the 400 metres freestyle in which he clocked in six minutes, 22.24 seconds, making him one of only half a dozen swimmers over the age of 70 who have broken the 6.30 barrier.

President of the 8,500-member Masters Swimming Canada, Smith was competing in his third provincial championship in three weekends, having swam in Halifax and Toronto previously.

All told he won 17 gold and two silver medals at the three meets.

As president of the Canadian national body, the Bermudian has been attending meets across Canada to talk to the membership about swimming issues. He?s also a vice-oresident of LATyCAR, the Masters Swimming organisation of Latin America and the Caribbean, which now includes the United States and Canada. And he represents both Bermuda and Canada on the LATyCAR Board.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Colleen Nelson, also a resident of Warwick and Smith?s cousin, broke British Columbia records in all four of her freestyle events ? 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m ? as well as Canadian records in the 100m and 800m at last weekend?s Ontario Masters Championships.

Nelson, 55, a top breaststroker, has only recently focused on the freestyle when knee injuries forced her to ease up on the breaststroke events.

Smith and Nelson will compete again at the British Columbia Championships in Vancouver in late April then again at the Canadian Championships in late May in Edmonton, Alberta.

Smith will then travel to Italy for the World Championships.