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Saturday, January 10, 2026
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Daley Triple Secures Victory for No. 4 Varsity Blues Against York
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The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men’s swimming team, ranked No. 4 nationally, continued their clinical start to the new year with a hard-fought 50-39 dual meet victory over the York Lions at the Athletic Centre – Varsity Pool on Saturday.
In a meet defined by the dominance of youth, first-year standout Elijah Daley emerged as the undisputed star of the morning session. The Bermudian freshman secured a remarkable triple-win, claiming the top prize in the 50m breaststroke, the 100m breaststroke, and the 100m individual medley.
Daley’s versatility across the strokes has quickly made him a central figure in Toronto’s championship aspirations. His ability to deliver maximum points in both sprint and medley disciplines proved to be the difference-maker as the Blues fended off a resilient York squad.
The Varsity Blues coaching staff, led by the legendary Byron MacDonald, have been vocal about the impact of their new recruit. "Our coaching staff knew how valuable Elijah would be to our program and he's proving us right," MacDonald said following the meet. "He will be a player on the national scene and just as importantly his demeanour and attitude are great additions to the squad."
The victory keeps the Blues' momentum high as they prepare for a heavy mid-season schedule. While the No. 2 ranked Toronto women also secured a comfortable win over York, the men’s performance highlighted the depth and readiness of their underclassmen ahead of next week's U of T Winter Invitational.
With the OUA Championships on the horizon in February, Daley’s early-season form suggests he will be a major contender for individual silverware as the Blues eye a sweep of the provincial titles.
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Friday, January 09, 2026
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Insley Plays a Role as Canisius Overpower St. Bonaventure
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Bermudian sophomore Rhys Insley helped the Canisius University men’s swimming and diving team secure a comprehensive 208-86 victory over Little Three rivals St. Bonaventure at the Reilly Center Pool in Olean, New York.
The Golden Griffins were in commanding form throughout the dual meet, with Insley contributing vital points across several individual and relay events to help his side sweep the podium in multiple disciplines.
Insley’s most significant individual contribution came in the Men’s 100 Yard Breaststroke. In a display of explosive power, the Smiths Parish native touched the wall in 58.69 to claim second place. His performance was part of a crucial 2-3 finish for the Griffs, narrowly ahead of teammate Giovanni Poggio, securing a major point haul for the visiting side.
The sophomore also tested his versatility in the Men’s 200 Yard Individual Medley, where he finished sixth overall with a time of 2:05.69.
Insley’s consistency was further highlighted in the relay events, where he was a staple of the Canisius 'C' teams:
200 Yard Medley Relay: Swimming the second leg, Insley helped his team to a fifth-place finish in a combined time of 1:40.22.
200 Yard Freestyle Relay: Returning for the final event of the meet, he again swam the second leg, helping the Griffs' 'C' team clock 1:31.83 to take another fifth-place spot.
The dominant scoreline marks one of the most significant wins for Canisius in recent history at the Reilly Center Pool, providing the team with massive momentum as they head toward the heart of the 2026 collegiate season.
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Thursday, January 08, 2026
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White Leads Bentley to Dominant Victory Over St. Michael’s
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Swimmer Taylor White produced a clinical display of speed and endurance as she helped the Bentley University women’s swimming and diving team secure a convincing 189-101 victory over St. Michael’s College.
The Falcons were in irresistible form at the Dana Center, with White playing a pivotal role across both individual and relay events to help her side cruise to their latest dual-meet win.
White’s standout individual moment came in the Women’s 500 Yard Freestyle. Showcasing her range as a distance specialist, the senior from Warwick touched the wall first in a time of 5:20.28, securing maximum points for the Falcons and finishing well clear of the chasing pack.
Beyond her individual triumph, White was instrumental in Bentley’s relay dominance. She spearheaded the 200 Yard Medley Relay 'A' team, swimming a sharp leadoff backstroke leg to set the foundation for a winning time of 1:56.87.
She returned to the pool for the 400 Yard Freestyle Relay, swimming the second leg for the 'A' team. Her consistent split helped the Falcons clock a combined 3:48.14 to claim another victory and put the result beyond doubt.
The win continues a stellar senior season for White, who was recently named the Northeast-10 Women’s Swimmer of the Week. Her leadership and form remain central to Bentley’s aspirations as they head toward the championship season.
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Wednesday, January 07, 2026
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Smatt & Fahy Bermuda’s Historic LC Records Stand Firm
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 Stephen Fahy IslandStats.com
Following the publication of the 2025 long course benchmarks, a closer look at the Bermuda Amateur Swimming Association archives reveals that some of the most enduring records now stretch back nearly four decades.
The longest-standing female record in the books belongs to Olympian Jennifer Smatt, whose dominance in the Breaststroke has spanned generations. Her 11-12 girls 100m Breaststroke time of 1:18.00, set in July 1987 in Puerto Rico, has remained the gold standard for over 38 years.
Smatt also holds several other resilient marks, including her 17-18 age group breaststroke records set during the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona and Individual Medley times dating back to 1990.
On the men’s side, the longest-standing record belongs to Olympian Stephen Fahy in the Open category. His 200m Individual Medley time of 2:07.25, established during the 13th Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada, has stood unchallenged since August 1st, 1999. This 26-year-old benchmark remains a formidable barrier for the island's current crop of elite male swimmers.
Other notable veterans of the record books include Anastasia Lau, whose 17-18 Girls 50m Breaststroke mark has stood since 2004, and Rebecca Sharpe, who has held the 15-16 Girls 200m Backstroke record since 2008. The legendary 2009 season also remains a prolific era for enduring times, featuring world-class performances from Olympians Julian Fletcher in the 17-18 Breaststroke and Kiera Aitken in the Open Freestyle and Backstroke categories.
Sprint king Olympian Roy-Allan Burch continues to hold the Men’s Open 50m Freestyle record with his 22.47-second dash from the 2012 London Olympics. Meanwhile, Mitchell Gariépy's 50m Breaststroke time remains the 9-10 Boys standard 15 years after it was set in Florida. These historic marks continue to serve as the ultimate benchmarks for Bermuda's emerging talent as they look to etch their own names into the annals of the sport.
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Tuesday, January 06, 2026
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Smatt’s 30-Year Standard Remains the peak of Swimming History
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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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