Video: Swimmers Return From Shanghai, China
Last night [Aug.3] two swimmers arrived in Bermuda after competing at the 14th FINA World Championships held in Shanghai, China. Both Julian Fletcher and Roy-Allen Burch returned home, while fellow team member Kiera Aitken went back to Spain where she lives and trains.
The event saw the three Bermudian swimmers go up against the best in the world, with all three performing admirably, even bringing home an Olympic qualification. Roy-Allen Burch shattered the Bermuda record in the 50 metre freestyle and qualified for the 2012 London Olympics.
Health Minister Zane DeSilva welcomed the returning swimmers home, standing in for Sports Minister Glenn Blakeney who is off island. He congratulated the swimmers, saying all of Bermuda is proud of them. MP Trevor Moniz and Jeff Sousa of the OBA were also on hand to congratulate and greet the returning swimmers.’
Julian Fletcher – who also broke a record – said he felt it was his best swim meet so far, and he is training hard and aiming to make the Olympics. Roy-Allen Burch, who qualified for the 2012 Olympics during the meet, said he was well prepared going in, and went in with a “fair amount of confidence.”
The 2011 World Championships ended on July 31, and featured athletes from over 70 nations competing in five aquatics disciplines: swimming, water polo, diving, open water, and synchronized swimming.
