A veteran of international swimming, Kiera Aitken won't be intimidated by the sport's superstars when she launches Bermuda's Olympic campaign at the newly-built Beijing Aquatics Centre tomorrow evening.

As a wild card entry, she's acutely aware that even in her favourite event - the 100 metres backstroke - she'd have to produce the swim of her life in order to advance from the qualifying heats.

Her personal best, also a national record, of 1:04.16, achieved at the Spanish Nationals in Mallorca earlier this year, still rates as the third slowest of the 40-plus swimmers entered in her event.

Most in that field made their way to Beijing on the back of a qualifying time of 1:03.86 or better, and will fight it out in six heats for a place in the semi-finals on Monday.

But Kiera's seen it before.

She rubbed shoulders with the same elite class at the last Olympics in Athens, and since then has competed twice in Melbourne, Australia - at the Commonwealth Games and Worlds - and in Rio de Janeiro at last year's Pan-Am Games.

Her dedication to the sport, and the rigorous training regime that goes with it, has been demonstrated by her decision to devote all of her time to swimming since leaving Dalhousie University a year ago.

Now, as always, she'll be aiming to lower her time and set another national record.

But although considered one of the best in the Caribbean region, she knows at these Games she's a small fish in a very big pool.

"After Melbourne (Commonwealth) I took a little break, and wasn't swimming that fast. But since then I've been training pretty hard," she said yesterday following another work-out at the Olympic pool, a short walk from the Games Village.

"My goal is just to swim my best time. It will be extremely hard to get out of the heats.

"I have to be realistic and what I'm aiming for is to get under 1:04.

"If I can get past that barrier, I'd be very pleased."

And the 24-year-old, who has been competing since primary school, has no intention of retiring just yet, refusing to rule out a third successive Olympics in London in 2012.

"It's a possibility," she smiled. "I'll just take it year by year.

"I left school last year and have just been training. Now I'll have to work as well, so I'll have to see how that works out."

Another national record tomorrow tonight would add to her collection and no doubt provide the incentive to carry on.

Besides the 100m backstroke, she's the Island's fastest in the 50m and 200m back and the 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle.

Sister Ashley isn't far behind, with national marks in the 50m and 100m butterfly.

n Both Aitken and team-mate Roy Allen Burch found themselves in the right place at the right time after yesterday's training, as swimsuit manufacturers Speedo decided to hand out for free the latest model of their 'go-fast' race bodysuits worth more than $300.

Both Bermudians were happy to take up the offer.