Bermuda’s swimmers got their first taste of the pool in the 2023 World Championships on Sunday night.

Emma Harvey, who won two medals at the Central American and Caribbean Games this month, was first to take the plunge in Fukuoka, Japan, when racing in the 100 metres backstroke heats.

Competing in heat four, Harvey finished eighth in the ten-swimmer event in a time of 1min 3.14sec, which was 2.31sec behind winner Helena Gasson, of New Zealand, and ranked Harvey 39th of the 61 competitors.

The time may have disappointed Harvey, who swam half a second quicker in the same event at the CAC Games, but she will get the chance to improve on the performance when she competes in the 50 metres backstroke heats on Wednesday.

Harvey’s brother, Jack, was also in action in the 100 metres backstroke heats, recording a time of 57.04 to finish fourth in heat four, which was good enough for 42nd overall of the 61 competitors. He will next compete in the 200 metres backstroke on Thursday

Madelyn Moore, who won a silver medal at the CAC Games in the 50 metres freestyle, will compete in the 100 metres freestyle heats on Thursday and the 50 heats on Saturday.

Benedict Parfit is also in action this week in the 100 metres freestyle on Wednesday and the 50 metres freestyle on Friday.