Unlike team-mates Kiera Aitken and Lisa Blackburn, Roy Allan Burch doesn’t have the added burden of qualifying for next year’s Olympics at the ongoing Pan Am Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.Burch booked his ticket for the upcoming Olympics at last summer’s World Championships in China, where he became the first Bermudian to break the 23 second barrier in the 50 meter freestyle.His blistering time of 22.69 was also a new national record, surpassing the previous mark of 23.10 he also set in the pool.The Charlotte-based swimmer returns to action today at the Pan Am Games and will compete alongside 2008 Olympic gold medallist and multiple world record holder Cesar Cielo of Brazil in the 50 metre freestyle.Cielo broke his own Pan Am Games record in the 100m freestyle earlier this week after covering the distance in a remarkable 47.84 seconds.Burch competed against the Brazilian at the 2007 Pan Am Games and is looking forward to rubbing shoulders with his illustrious rival once again.“It’s always a great opportunity to go against the fastest guy in the world because then you can go back and re-evaluate what it is you need to do to be where he’s at,” he said. “I raced against him at the 2007 Pan Am Games but I wasn’t nowhere where I’m at now back then. I want to make my mark and show what I can do against these guys.”Burch is optimistic he can put in a good showing in today’s 50m freestyle among a star-studded field.“Since my first race I am more focused on what I have to do in the 50 metre freestyle,” he said. “I’ve had a decent amount of rest since I arrived here and hopefully it will turn into a good performance.”Burch watched in awe from the stands as Cielo shattered the Pan Am Games 100m freestyle record.“I had to go and watch what he is doing and to put up the second fastest time in the world this year is a big deal,” he said. I know he’s going to go hard in the 50 metre freestyle and so it will be a great chance to get up next to him and ride his wave home.”Despite failing to reach the 100m freestyle finals Burch took comfort from posting his second fastest time (52.87) of the year over the distance in the qualifying heats.“It was a good end season swim and I’m still doing a lot of work in the 100 meter freestyle,” he said. “I didn’t really execute the race as well as I would’ve liked to. But at this point the 100 meter freestyle is more like something to help me prepare for the 50 metre freestyle.”Also in action today for Bermuda is Blackburn who is competing in the women’s 200m breaststroke. Blackburn won a silver medal representing Canada at the 2003 Pan Am Games in the Dominican Republic.