Bermuda’s collective showing at the Commonwealth Games could not have been more aptly encapsulated than the high five shared between Flora Duffy and her mother down the home straight of the women’s triathlon.

The Island’s athletes experienced highs and lows, joy and pain, surprise successes and unfathomable failures, but when the dust settles on Glasgow 2014, Bermuda — one of the smallest nations that competed — can reflect on a job generally well done.

Although no Bermuda athlete was able to eclipse the high-water mark set by Duffy, who finished eighth on the opening day of the competition, there were several other performances worthy of merit during the sporting invasion of Scotland’s largest city.

Two of the Island’s athletes came away with personal bests, heptathlete Shianne Smith in the 800 metres and swimmer Roy-Allan Burch in the 100 metres freestyle.

Tyrone Smith reaffirmed his position among the world’s elite, reaching the second round of a particularly competitive men’s long jump final, placing eighth.

Dominique Mayho enjoyed his moment in the spotlight, occupying the hot seats for more than five minutes in the men’s cycling time-trial, while Shaquille Dill displayed a maturity beyond his tender years, reaching the semi-finals of the 800 metres, running in the neighbouring lane to the legendary David Rudisha, of Kenya.

Interspersing these relative successes were moments of inevitable disappointment, most notably Arantxa King’s failure to advance to the women’s long jump final and Tre Houston’s costly stumble out of the blocks in his 100 metres heat.

Just as predicted by Stan Douglas, the Bermuda chef de mission, Glasgow certainly proved to be the perfect backdrop for the Games, where the Island’s athletes expended every last drop of energy and effort do themselves and the country proud.

While being shepherded about by the reasonably reliable media buses, attempting to do justice to the displays of Bermuda’s athletes, there certainly appeared to be some validity behind the “Friendly Games” slogan attached the event.

Another Games banner among the many fluttering around the city that perhaps rang even truer was the one carrying the claim: “People make Glasgow”.

On the evidence of the past 12 days, it is certainly hard to disagree with that assertion.

From the hundreds of volunteers, known as “Clydesiders”, with their impossibly smiling faces, welcoming athletes, spectators and media to the various venues dotted around Glasgow and beyond, to the genial taxi drivers, shop workers and military personnel (I could go on), the warmth of the event has been palpable.

Bermuda’s athletes also more than played their part in entering into the spirit of the Games.

Tucker Murphy and Jonathan Herring refused to be downhearted after being pulled from the men’s triathlon, having been lapped by the leaders on the bike ride, remaining on the course to cheer on team-mate Tyler Butterfield to a top-20 finish.

Perhaps even more heartwarming was the sight of Julian Fletcher standing by himself at a bus stop after using public transport to travel from the Athletes’ Village to Tollcross, where the swimming events were held, in a show of support of team-mate Burch.

Fletcher need not have done that. He could have followed Burch’s fortunes from the comfort of the Village with the BBC covering every cough and spit of these Games across television, radio and online.

But the 23-year-old, who reached the semi-finals in the 100 metres breaststroke, obviously felt that it was important to show a visible presence, even though his Games had already come to an end.

It was a quiet, selfless gesture perhaps even more powerful than the mother-daughter high five between the Duffys.

Bermuda may not have won a medal in Glasgow, but there will be many on the Island, and among the squash contingent at the Games, who will be overjoyed at David Palmer claiming two gold medals yesterday in the mixed doubles and men’s doubles.

Palmer, who lived and coached in Bermuda for a number of years before returning to his native Australia, came out of a three-year international retirement for a chance at Commonwealth gold. His ambitions were realised when he partnered Rachael Grinham against the English pair of Peter Barker and Alison Waters, winning 11-8, 11-10.

A little more than an hour later, the 38-year-old teamed up with Cameron Pilley for a 10-11, 11-7, 11-9 win over Nick Mathew and Adrian Grant, also of England.