Alia Atkinson after her heat of the 200m breaststroke yesterday. - Charles Pitt

BEIJING, China (CMC)

Jamaican swimmer Alia Atkinson has called for an enhanced swimming programme for the Caribbean, following her failed campaign in the 200 metres breaststroke at the 29th Olympiad here.

She recorded a personal best, clocking 2:29.33 minutes, but could not advance from the opening round of the event on Wednesday.

"More clinics, more training trips abroad are needed for Caribbean swimmers to advance and compete at this level," the 20-year-old told CMC Sports.

Something special

Atkinson said despite her dominance at competitions in the Caribbean, it took something special to excel at international level.

"The Caribbean is small. To compare the Caribbean to world swimming we are really not that great," she explained.

"I go to school in Texas, so I get the American training and their competition. I have been able to excel in short-course swimming but I have not been able to adjust to long course."

Atkinson, who is currently the leading Caribbean female swimmer, led the race at one stage before fading to finish second behind Malaysia"s Yi Ting Stow.

Though her time shaved a few seconds off her previous best of 2:31.28 minutes, it could only rank her 25th in the qualifying round.

"Truthfully, I was going for a 2:27, but it is my best time so I cannot be upset," she said. "From where I was, I thought I went out too slow but then I felt I came back."

Atkinson said she planned to go back to the drawing board as she looked forward to a medal at the 2012 Olympics in London.

"All I have planned are training and school. I swam a 2:29 and as you can see it takes a 2:25, so I have some time to chop," she noted.

"I'm going for a medal [next Olympics], definitely. Only four years can tell. To get there I need a lot more training."