Bermuda’s swimming record books have undergone a significant overhaul in recent seasons, but a handful of historic times remain untouched, serving as a powerful reminder of the island’s aquatic legacy.
Following the publication of the 2025 short course benchmarks, a closer look at the Bermuda Amateur Swimming Association (BASA) archives reveals that some of the most enduring records now stretch back nearly four decades.
The longest-standing record in the current books belongs to Olympian Jennifer Smatt. Her performance in the 11-12 Female 200m Breaststroke has stood for nearly 39 years. Clocked on June 1st, 1987, Smatt’s time of 2:47.10 remains the Gold standard for that Age Group. It is a mark that has survived multiple generations of rising stars and remains one of the most formidable challenges for any young Bermudian breaststroker.
Smatt’s dominance in that era is further highlighted by her influence on the senior ranks; although many of her open records were eventually lowered by the likes of Lisa Blackburn, her youth mark from the late eighties remains the ultimate outlier in an era of rapid technical progression.
While Smatt holds the title for the oldest individual mark, the year 2009 remains the most prolific for records that refuse to fall. This period, often cited as a "Golden Era" for Bermudian swimming, saw three major stars establish times that have now passed the 15-year milestone.
Kiera Aitken, one of the island's most decorated Olympians, enjoyed a legendary weekend in Castellon, Spain, in November 2009. Within a 72-hour window, she set a trio of Female Open backstroke records that still stand today. Her 50m time of 27.72, her 100m at 59.31, and her 200m mark of 2:09.09 have outlasted over a decade and a half of challengers, including current standout Madelyn Moore.
On the men’s side, Jason Mastalir carved his name into history during a blistering four-month stretch in early 2009. Competing across Canada in Halifax, Toronto, and Quebec City, Mastalir set the 17-18 and Male Open records for the 400m, 800m, and 1,500m freestyle. His 1,500m time of 16:11.50, set in April 2009, remains the fastest ever swum by a Bermudian in a short course pool.
The archives also feature younger age group marks that have proved surprisingly resilient. Megan Lau holds two of the most durable records in the 8 & Under category, with her 800m freestyle and 400m individual medley times both dating back to early 2009.
In the 11-12 Male division, Jesse Washington’s explosive 50m freestyle sprint of 26.81, set in March 2012, has now officially crossed the 13-year mark. Washington, who went on to become a staple of the national team, set a standard for sprint speed that continues to elude the island's current crop of pre-teen talent.
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