Julian Fletcher reached the Olympic qualifying B standard in the 100 metres breaststroke at the Validus Bermuda National Championships at the Aquatics Centre last night.

The 25-year-old swam the distance in 1min 2.47sec to become the second Bermudian, behind Rebecca Heyliger, to meet the Olympic B standard at the championships.

Fletcher’s time was a personal best, eclipsing his own national record in the 100 breaststroke, which he lowered to 1:03 in the earlier heats.

“I managed to drop a little bit of time from the morning swim and also get the B cut by two tenths,” Fletcher said. “It was just an absolutely amazing experience tonight. This is the first time actually under 1:03 and I’m very happy to have done a B standard in front of the home crowd and family and friends.

“I was just absolutely humbled and elated by all the people that came out to support and then also from the support of coaches in Bermuda and other swimmers as well.”

Fletcher’s performance went a long way towards making up for the disappointment of narrowly missing out on reaching the B standard in the lead-up to the previous Olympics in London.

“This will be my first Olympics, if I go,” he said. “In 2012, I missed the standard by six tenths and it didn’t really settle that well.

“I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to continue swimming or not and just wasn’t happy with my career at the time. A lot of credit goes out to [national coach] Ben Smith for helping me pursue Olympics for another four years, and also my parents. I would not have been able to do it without them.”

Fletcher took the silver medal after finishing second in the final behind Trojan Swim club team-mate and Olympian Azad al-Barazi, with Kile Aukerman, of South Florida Aquatic Club, rounding off the podium in third.

Having met the B standard in the 100 breast, Fletcher is aiming for similar results in the 200 breaststroke on the final day of the championships today.

“I am hoping to drop some time in that and go below the B standard in that as well,” he said.

Fletcher’s compatriots, Roy-Allan Burch and Madelyn Moore, are also attempting to reach the Olympic B qualifying standard in the 50 metres freestyle.

The championships resume this morning with preliminary heats and finals in the afternoon.