She has competed at two Olympic Games, two Pan American Games and two Commonwealth Games as well as a couple of World Championships.

And at times Bermuda's leading female swimmer, Kiera Aitken, does get a bit weary from all the training in the pool.

But what makes everything worthwhile, she says, is representing Bermuda at the highest level.

Aitken, who is back in Bermuda from her Barcelona base, admitted this week that it can be tough training all year long.

"I get tired all of the time and I wonder why I keep doing it. But when the big competitions are on that is the point in the year where you really get inspired and motivated.

"During the year away from competitions it is hard to keep going. But when I get to Beijing (Olympics) or Rome (World Championships) it makes it all worthwhile."

Aitken's first big Games were the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England.

And she is hoping that Bermuda will have more swimmers coming through the ranks.

"It does look promising but some of the swimmers are still young but they can do some good things if they work hard," she said.

And that means competing at the smaller meets first before taking on the world's best at the Olympics and World Championships.

"We had five swimmers at the Worlds in the summer in Rome. That is the highest level. But it is at the meets in the Caribbean where they can really develop," Aitken added.

Aitken, who swims both the backstroke and freestyle, has over the years broken and set numerous Bermuda records. And more should be on the way after she returns to Spain to continue swimming with the Barcelona Swim Club.

"I have been there for three years now and have been renting a room in an apartment. But when I go back next year I want to get my own apartment," she said.

Of her time in Barcelona, she said: "The competition there is good although not necessarily in my event. I am one of the best in my events but I also get to see international swimmers all of the time."