Springfield, Mass. -- July 3, 2012 -- Springfield College graduate Roy-Allan Burch '08 will compete for his native Bermuda in the 50-meter freestyle at the London Olympic Games on Thursday, August 2nd. Burch, the Bermudan national record holder in the event, will swim in the fourth heat at 5:07 am EST. Watch Burch swim live on nbcolympics.com.This will be the second time he has competed in the Olympic Games, having also participated in the Beijing Games in 2008.
Burch qualified for the London Games at the 2011 World Championship Games that took place in Shanghai, China. At those games, he established Bermudan national records in the 50-free with a time of 22.69 seconds and in the 100-free with a time of 51.01 seconds.
Despite setting records in both events, it appears that Roy will be participating in just the 50-meter freestyle in London. In Beijing, Burch competed in just the 100-meter freestyle. In that event, he finished with a time of 52.65 seconds, but did not advance beyond the "heat" stage to the semifinals.
In London, Roy will compete in the 50-free on August 2 at the Aquatics Centre. The heats and the semifinals will take place on that day. The final will take place on August 3.
"I feel I've been steadily improving," said the 26-year old Burch while in Bermuda last month. "I'm looking forward to what is to come. I'm making sure that I'm going to give it everything that I have."
Burch is a veteran of international experience. Beside the Olympic Games of 2008, he has competed in the World Championships of 2009 and 2011, the Commonwealth Games of 2010, and the Pan American Games of 2007 and 2011. He already has the experience of competing at the Aquatics Centre, site of these Olympic Games.
Burch has been preparing for these Games in Charlotte, North Carolina since 2011 under the guidance of David Marsh, the U.S. Olympic coach. Before Marsh became the U.S. Olympic coach, he had guided Auburn University to a total of 12 NCAA team titles (seven men's, five women's).
"I'm confident that Roy will do well in London," said his previous swim coach, Springfield College's own John Taffe. "I would not rule him out of advancing to the semifinals (top 16). I know that Roy has been continually improving, and all of Springfield will be rooting for him."
John Taffe enters his 24th season in 2012-2013 as the head coach of the men's and women's swimming teams at Springfield College. Under Taffe’s leadership, the Pride has returned to its status as one of the best collegiate swimming and diving programs in Division III. Read more.
Peter Avdoulos is regarded as one of the top diving coaches in the nation, and will enter his 28th season as the diving coach for both the men's and women's programs in 2012-2013. The current NEWMAC Men's Diving Coach of the Year, Avdoulos has coached countless All-New England and All-American divers, as well as several National Champions. Read more.