Three of Bermuda?s masters swimmers made a splash at the recent Canadian National Championships, returning with a haul of 11 individual medals.

Colleen Nelson and Peter Weedon, both 56, were joined by 73-year-old Chris Smith, who has regularly proved himself as one of the world?s top performers in his age group.

Competing at the Etobicoke Olympium in Etobicoke, Ontario, it was Smith who led the way with three golds and a silver while Nelson picked up one gold, four silvers and two bronze.

Weedon failed to medal but managed top eight finishes in all of his events.

The competition was run as a short course meet with the Olympium pool divided into two 25 metre courses, men?s and women?s competitions taking place on alternate days in the shallow and deep end.

Over 900 masters swimmers, ranging in age from 19 to 91, from all the Canadian provinces as well as the USA, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Bermuda, took part. Eleven world records were set as well as numerous Canadian records.

Smith, competing for the Trillium Y Masters Club, won gold in the 200 and 1500 metres freestyle, and a silver in the 100 metres backstroke. He also took fourth in the 100 metres Individual Medley and swam relays with his team, contributing to a new Canadian record time.

Nelson, a member of the Masters Swimming British Columbia, was taking part in her second short course meet this year, and swam in events in which she had not competed at her previous meet in Milton, Ontario in March.

She finished with gold in the 400 metres Individual Medley, four silvers in the 50m butterfly, 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle, and bronze in the 100m freestyle and 200, breaststroke.

Of the seven events that she swam, she achieved lifetime best times in four.

Nelson also won gold and silver medal in two relays which she swam as a member of the MSBC team.

Weedon, who trains at the BASA pool under coach Richard Goodwin, was swimming in his second Canadian meet this year.

His best finish was fourth in the 1500m freestyle, and in his other events he placed fifth in the 200m freestyle, sixth in the 800m freestyle, seventh in both the 100m and 400m freestyle, and eighth in both the 50m freestyle and 100m Individual Medley.

At the Annual General Meeting of Masters Swimming Canada, Smith was re-elected president, and will likely hold office for a further two years.