Chef de Mission Donna Watson last night hailed the performance of Bermuda's athletes at the CAC Games in Puerto Rico – although she admitted the team blew the chance to win three more medals.

The majority of Bermuda's 60-strong squad were due to return home today from the Games where they claimed a gold medal (Tyrone Smith, long jump), a silver (Flora Duffy, triathlon), and three bronzes (Damien Matthews, bowling, Ross Roberts, shooting and Tyler Butterfield, triathlon.)

But Watson, the Bermuda Track and Field Association president, is adamant they could have added a trio of medals to that impressive haul had some of the Island's top athletes lived up to their podium potential.

"I'm pleased with the Bermuda team as I feel we came out with a few unexpected medals," she said. "I also feel we definitely lost two medals and possibly a third as Aaron Evans and Kiera Aitken both went into their finals in medal contention, Arantxa King also, if she had of jumped at her best.

"Unfortunately due to miscommunication, Arantxa got to her event late and was nearly not allowed to compete.

"She was never able to practice her run ups before the event and therefore she fouled four jumps."

Watson, who presented Smith with his gold medal last week, said she had greatly benefitted from her experience as Chef de Mission and believes the team can build upon their promising CAC Games showing at future major competitions.

"This has been an interesting experience for me and I'm thankful for having been chosen as the Chef de Mission for these games," Watson said.

"I'm sure with hindsight there might have been a few things we could have done differently but again that's all in the learning experience.

"I enjoyed working with each of the team managers and I was able to get to every sport where Bermuda had competitors even though some of them were at least two-and-a-half hours away.

"Bermuda should be proud of this team and I feel we can build on this for future events and come out with even more medals."

Tennis team manager, Ian Gordon, said the Games had been an important lesson for the Island's players and coaches who could leave Puerto Rico 'with their heads held high'. "The only team to out perform Bermuda from the Caribbean region was Bahamas who took a gold and two bronze medals," he said. "The players were focussed, well prepared and competitive at a very high level.

"Big competition experience such as the CAC Games will provide our players with confidence and experience in their future Davis Cup and Fed Cup matches."

Bermuda ladies hockey team finished the 16-team tournament in eighth position after losing their final match to host nation Puerto Rico 1-0 on Friday night.

n At last night's closing ceremony in Mayaguez long jumper Arantxa King was bestowed with the honour of carrying the Bermuda flag.

Bermuda finished 17th in the CAC Games medal table.