Bermuda Amateur Swimming Association has made a final appeal to land Stephen Fahy a spot on the Bermuda Olympic team.

Fahy was not included on the Bermuda Olympic Association list of competitors formally registered for the games on Sunday and didn't help his cause with a disappointing performance at the Caribbean Age-Group Swimming Championships in Puerto Rico on Tuesday.

But BASA president Jim Ferguson, with backing from world swimming's governing body, FINA, yesterday made one last plea to beat tomorrow's deadline for entries.

Fahy, who missed by just 45/100th of a second the Olympic qualifying standard at a meet in Florida last week, swam one of his slower times when he settled for a bronze medal in the 100-metres butterfly on Tuesday night.

The medal was one of four Bermuda won on the first day of competition, the highlight being Craig Roberts record-setting gold in the 100m breaststroke.

Now Fahy, the BASA and national team coach Gareth Davies are relying on the BOA's sense of goodwill to get the swimmer to Atlanta. And they seem to have the support from FINA director Cornel Murculescu, who in a letter to Ferguson, cites Rule BL 6.3.6.1: "All (National Olympic Committees) having no swimmers qualified may enter one man and one woman regardless of time standards in competitions of their choice with evidence of participation in national and international competition.'' Despite missing the Olympic qualifing standard, Fahy would be allowed to compete with a recommendation from the BOA.

Says Ferguson, "The ball is firmly in their court now.'' "All the BOA needs to do is reccommend him and he's there,'' said Davies by phone yesterday from Puerto Rico. "I think Stephen's 57.77 was a good enough time.'' Tuesday, Fahy's time in the final was .16 seconds slower than what he swam in the morning heats. "He looked very, very tired,'' said Davies.

In a letter to the BOA, Ferguson argued the BOA should re-evaluate the Yale University-bound Fahy based on several factors. Among them: His committment and training, despite a heavy scholastic load His constantly improving times; Lack of a 50m pool on the Island; The fact a recent training run in Florida was cut short by scholarship interview he had to attend back home.

Contacted late yesterday afternoon, BOA secretary general John Hoskins said a decision had not be reached. "We're still discussing it,'' he said.

Meanwhile, Roberts swam to a Carribbean record in the 18-21 age group with his time of 1:12.5 in the 100m breast. Alicia Mullan and Trevor Ferguson added bronze medals in the 400m freestyle in the same age group.

The surprise of the day was turned in Michael Hammond, who smashed Gary Mewett's national record when he finished fourth in the 400m free in a personal best 4:20.90. The 4x100 medley relay team, anchored by Stephen Troake, was pipped at the wire and finished fourth in 4:10:20.

All swimmers advanced to the finals and swam PBs. "I couldn't ask for any better,'' said Davies.