Bermudian swimmer Jack Harvey is revelling in the memories and experience he gained from competing in the recently concluded Olympic Games in Paris, France.
Harvey competed in one event in Paris—the 100-metre backstroke— and he gave a credible showing.
The 21-year-old won his heat with a time of 55.78 seconds but he did not advance to the semi-finals due to his ranking of 39th.
The Olympic experience was special for Harvey as he represented the British Overseas Territory alongside his sister Emma.
“The Olympics have been one of the best experiences of my life,” he told Loop News.
“Being around and seeing some of the best athletes in the world is something I’ll never forget. Getting to do it alongside my sister has made it a whole level more memorable.”
Reflecting on the games, Harvey said: “I’ve definitely learned a lot of lessons from these games, making sure you’re ready on your first swim is really important. Also racing and seeing how some of the best athletes prepare themselves teaches you a lot. Doing all this with my sister has been an amazing experience. She’s definitely played an important role in my journey so being there for each other we can continue to improve until 2028.”
This was not the first time Harvey that the Pennsylvania State University student represented Bermuda on the world stage. In 2022, he competed in the 50, 100 and 200 metre backstroke events at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Harvey said his favourite part of competing was walking onto the pool deck to race and seeing the packed crowd who were there to support the athletes.
He said this experience has motivated him to continue training and preparing for future competitions.