Bermudian Youth Olympian Madelyn Moore made a successful return to the pool this weekend, claiming a commanding victory in the Women’s 15 & Over 50m Backstroke at the BASA Long Course Qualification Meet.
Moore touched the wall in 30.52 at the National Sports Centre, marking her first long-course competition since April. The 25-year-old expressed her delight at being back in competitive action, noting that the meet served as a vital gauging point for her current fitness levels.
The victory comes at a time of significant transition for the standout sprinter. Having recently returned home to Bermuda to rediscover her love for the sport, Moore is now balancing intensive training with her job on the Bermuda Police Service.
"I'm really enjoying it," Moore said of her return to training. "It's definitely a trial-and-error situation at the minute, especially now doing shift work, but I'm looking forward to seeing where this is going to take me in the new year".
Under the guidance of her new coach, Moore has been focusing on technical refinements and "little details" that she previously felt were missing from her repertoire. The progress was evident at the National Sports Centre, where she comfortably held off a competitive field, including Violet Smith, who secured second place with a personal best of 33.15.
Moore’s primary focus remains on the 2026 Commonwealth Games and the CAC Games. Her performance this weekend underscores her status as one of Bermuda’s most resilient and talented aquatic athletes.
Saturday, December 20, 2025
Moore & Benevides lead the way in BASA LC Qualifier
Madelyn Moore
IslandStats.com
The Bermuda Amateur Swimming Association (BASA) Long Course Qualification Meet saw the island’s elite and emerging talent descend on the National Sports Centre pool, with established stars and rising youth prospects delivering a series of sharp early-season times.
In the Women’s 15 & Over 50m Backstroke, Bermuda’s standout Youth Olympian Madelyn Moore demonstrated her class with a commanding victory. Moore touched the wall in 30.52 to secure the top spot, finishing ahead of Violet Smith. Smith, who has been in impressive form this year, recorded a new personal best of 33.15 to claim second, highlighting her continued progression in the senior ranks.
The youth divisions also provided plenty of excitement, particularly in the Girls 13-14 50m Butterfly. Zara Bule edged out a close contest to finish first in 40.59, just holding off Riana Robinson, who finished a narrow second in 41.10.
The Men’s 15 & Over category saw Joseph Moniz and Pharoah Benevides trade honors across the freestyle and butterfly disciplines. Moniz claimed a hard-fought victory in the 200m Freestyle, clocking 2:23.00 to narrowly beat out Jasper Lau, who finished just a second behind in 2:24.00.
However, the tables turned in the 50m Butterfly, where Pharoah Benevides showcased his sprinting power. Benevides took a clear victory with a time of 28.39, with Joseph Moniz taking second in 31.56 and Jasper Lau completing the podium in 33.24.
The meet serves as a vital gauging point for the swimmers as they look toward the 2026 international calendar, with the National Sports Centre once again providing the perfect stage for the island's aquatic talent.
Harvey Excited - National Record & Commonwealth Marks
IslandStats.com
Bermuda Olympian Emma Harvey made a stunning return to the international stage at the 2025 Toyota U.S. Open Championships, shattering her own national record and securing a clean sweep of Commonwealth Games qualifying times.
Competing in Austin, Texas, after a six-month hiatus from competitive racing, Harvey wasted no time in making an impact. On the opening day of competition, she clocked a blistering 25.69 seconds in the 50-metre Freestyle, shaving a hundredth of a second off the record she established at the same event in 2023.
The performance placed her 22nd overall in a field stacked with international talent and Olympic medalists. Speaking after the race, Harvey expressed her delight at the immediate return to form.
“Overall I am very happy with my 50m Freestyle and setting a new national record," Harvey said. "For my first race back in 6 months I was very pleased and I’m excited to race more in the New Year.”
Beyond the headlines of the national record, Harvey’s primary objective was securing her spot for the upcoming Commonwealth Games. She achieved this with clinical precision, reaching the qualifying standard in all five of her entered events.
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Insley Strikes Gold as Edmonton Campaign Concludes
IslandStats.com
Rhys Insley capped off a remarkable weekend of competition at the JP Fiset Invitational in Edmonton, securing a clinical victory on the final day to bolster Harbour Swim Club’s impressive medal haul.
Competing in the Men’s 100m Breaststroke A Final, Insley demonstrated the exceptional form that has defined his meet. He dominated the field to touch the wall in a sharp 1:04.64, a performance that comfortably earned him the Gold Medal and further cemented his reputation as a rising force in the breaststroke events.
The victory provided a fitting finale for the Harbour duo in Canada. Insley’s final-day triumph brought the combined medal tally for himself and teammate Sam Williamson to an impressive total of six across the Invitational. The pair’s consistent presence on the podium highlights a successful international outing for the club as they continue to make their mark on the competitive North American circuit.
With several high-level performances now under his belt, Insley returns from Edmonton as one of the standout performers of the meet, providing plenty of optimism for the remainder of the season.
Monday, December 15, 2025
Warwick Swimmers Shine at Queen City Dolphin Meet
IslandStats.com
The Warwick swim team delivered a hugely successful performance at the Queen City Dolphin meet, achieving both medal success and important season milestones. The meet served as a crucial benchmark for the programme, highlighting the athletes' consistent commitment, strong preparation, and competitive mindset.
Warwick swimmers regularly advanced to finals, recording numerous personal and season-best performances, and showcasing impressive relay depth across all age groups.
Head Coach Ben Smith was quick to praise his team's efforts, stating, “These results reflect not just the medals, but the work the athletes put in every day. We saw leadership from our seniors, confidence from our developing swimmers, and a real team culture throughout the meet. It was an outstanding weekend for Warwick”.
The individual medal haul was significant. Jorgia White secured a Gold Medal in the 1000 Freestyle and a Silver in the 1650. Noah Fulton claimed Bronze in the 1000, while Elanna won Silver in the 100 Backstroke. Ethan Smith earned Bronze in the 500 Freestyle and a Gold in the 200 Freestyle. Jacob Leclerc also claimed a Silver in the 500 Freestyle.
Logan Jones enjoyed a stellar meet, winning a complete set of medals: Bronze in the 500, Silver in the 200 Freestyle, Bronze in the 100 Backstroke, and Gold in the 100 Freestyle.
The team depth was also evident in the relays. The Men’s A Medley Relay team of Axel Wernbo, Zach Johnson, Noah Fulton, and Logan Jones secured a Bronze Medal. This was followed by a Silver Medal for the A Freestyle Relay, swum by Noah Fulton, Axel Wernbo, Jaime MacFarlane, and Logan Jones.
With this strong momentum and growing confidence, the Warwick Swim Team is now focusing on the next phase of their season. After a couple of days' rest, they will commence intensive training over the Christmas break at the NSC Aquatics centre. Their next major event will be the Easterns Interscholastic Championships in February.
