Bermuda’s swimming record books have undergone a relentless overhaul in recent seasons, but a resilient handful of historic times refuse to budge, serving as a powerful reminder of the island’s aquatic legacy.
Despite the surge of new talent, the 2025 Long Course benchmarks reveal that some standards have now entered their fourth decade.
The longest-standing female record 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 Puerto Rico in July 1987—has remained the gold standard for over 38 years.
Smatt’s name is etched throughout the archives, with her 1992 Barcelona Olympic marks and 1990 Individual Medley times still standing firm against the modern era.
On the men’s side, Stephen Fahy holds the ultimate staying power. His Open 200m Individual Medley time of 2:07.25, established at the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, has stood unchallenged for 26 years. It remains a formidable barrier for the island’s current elite crop.
Roy-Allan Burch: The sprint king’s 50m Freestyle dash (22.47s) from London 2012 remains the Open standard.
Anastasia Lau: Her 17-18 Girls 50m Breaststroke mark has been the time to beat since 2004.
Kiera Aitken: Multiple Open Freestyle and Backstroke records from the prolific 2009 season remain untouched.
While the “Class of 2025” continues to chase history, these legendary marks ensure that Bermuda’s past greats remain very much a part of the sport’s future.
