Bermuda swimmer Roy Allen Burch is at a crossroads in his career, one which will either lead to London in 2012 or to a life away from the sport altogether.

The Olympian finds himself in no man's land. No longer part of the college system in America, and largely unsupported by the Bermuda Olympic Association, he is facing the prospect of going it alone in his bid to qualify for the London Olympics in three year's time.

For Burch, 24, the next few months will be crucial, the World Championships are just around the corner, and as things stand he is relying on his family to help him just live.

He hasn't received any financial support from the BOA since last summer, and is unwilling to continue in the sport in anything other than a full-time capacity.

"I've got to the point where my life is changing and I have to start making some decisions for myself," he said.

"I want to continue, and I feel like I have a lot to offer this sport, and a lot to offer Bermuda in the sport, and I think it would be a shame to stop because I have to go out and work.

"It wont be enough to work and swim at the same time.

"It wasn't so important before, because I was swimming with my college, and I was travelling with them, and I was training with them.

"I finished my four-year eligibility in the NCAA, I just need to take the next step.

"I think the support is out there, and people are working on things.

"My association, BASA are doing what they can, and the Bermuda Olympic Association is trying to reform and doing new things there, and hopefully we can get something out of that and move forward with the sport.

"The main thing is getting the support during the journey. Everything is fine when we are at a championships, but we do need the support in the middle.

"I have a daughter, I have a family and I have to think about supporting them at the same time.

"I want to make it my job, instead of a part time situation.

"To be on a world stage, you can't do it part time. Michael Phelps took one day off in five years."

In purely financial terms, Burch estimates that he needs a minimum of $70,00 a year to be able to be competitive. The money would cover living expenses, food, and paying fees for coaching and pool time.

He isn't expecting other people to do everything for him though.

Burch has recently completed his degree, has set up his own t-shirt business and is chasing sponsorship in an effort to make his dream a reality.

"I met Colin Jones, who was on the USA relay team and won gold with Michael Phelps, I talked to him quite a bit about where he trains," said Burch.

"He trains with the best sprint coach in the US in North Carolina, and that is where I want to be, training full time so I can live, eat, swim. That would be the ideal situation for me, and it's not an expensive situation to be in.

"This is the pivotal point, this is the time when it has to happen for me, and if it doesn't I can't really continue.

"Actually I'm not really willing to continue under the conditions of working nine-to-five and then trying to go and swim for two hours afterwards.

"It's just too much to deal with, and I wouldn't be able to give the sport everything. I'd stay at the same point that I am, or get worse."