Madelyn Moore says she has learnt some harsh but important lessons after being disappointed with her first Pan American Games.

Moore did not set any personal bests but did reach the B final of the 50 metres freestyle, where she finished sixth in a time of 26.52sec last night.

Although it was an improvement on her time of 26.79 in her 50 freestyle heat in the morning, the 19-year-old admits she had been hoping for more from the meet.

Asked what she had taken from the Pan Am Games, Moore said: “I think I’ve learnt how to overcome disappointment.

“It definitely wasn’t one of my best meets and you just have to roll with the punches.

“I was definitely down in the dumps a bit after this morning’s swim but Ben [Smith, the Bermuda coach] gave me a god pep talk. “I didn’t PB, but I’m happy with it and it’s probably close to my season best. I can’t be unhappy with it.”

Moore will have a two-week break before returning to the University of Northern Colorado with renewed determination as she targets qualification for the Olympic Games in Tokyo next summer.

“I have really big ambitions,” she said. “Tokyo is the goal right now. It will be my second year of university and hopefully it will go a lot better.

“I’ve realised my turns and my finishes in the 100 free have been sub par. There’s definitely a lot to work on so I’m excited.”

“It’s my first Pan Am Games and it’s been a great experience and really good exposure to high levels of swimming.”

It has been a hectic summer for Moore who has competed at back-to-back, high-level events in the World Aquatic Championships in Gwangju, South Korea , and the Pan Am Games.

And she is proud of how far she has come since starting out as five-year-old at the BASA pool at Saltus Grammar School.

“I remember when I first started and I was not doing what I was meant to be doing,” she said. “There’s been a lot to overcome but you have to keep on pushing through.

“I’ve found it tough over the past few weeks with all the travelling but you have to keep on going because it’s incredible when you get to the end. [Lima] has been an amazing experience.”

Meanwhile, Jesse Washington did not reach the B final in the men’s 50 freestyle yesterday. He came eighth in heat four in 23.92.