Malta still in search of first gold medal

Swimming is one of the compulsory disciplines in the Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE).

With over 30 events included in the GSSE programme, swimming is considered one of the most important disciplines as a significant amount of medals is at stake.

Iceland are the leading GSSE nation in swimming as their athletes tend to dominate practically all events.

Maltese swimmers have always found the going tough in the pool and, in spite of some encouraging performances, Malta has yet to strike its first ever gold medal at these Games.

The heated Olympic-size pool at Tal-Qroqq marked the start of a new era for Maltese swimming even though our first bronze medal at these Games was won in Andorra in 1991. Katya Pace was Malta's first GSSE medal winner when finishing third the 100 metres breaststroke.

So far, Maltese swimmers have managed a total of three silver and 10 bronze medals in all previous editions of the GSSE.

Being an individual sport, swimming is definitely a tough discipline. In Malta, swimming is fairly popular among youngsters but most of them tend to turn their back on this sport despite their considerable progress.

Next month, Malta will be represented by a small group of swimmers who will be doing their utmost to clock personal bests and establish new national records that will hopefully put them among the medal winners.

Malta's brightest prospect is Angela Galea. Galea is hoping to repeat her success in San Marino when she clinched a bronze medal in the 200 metres butterfly.

With two more years of experience under her belt, including a good showing at the Manchester Commonwealth Games, Galea should accomplish her goal of winning at least one medal for Malta in the pool.

The 20-year-old swimmer is the national record holder in the 50m, 100m and 200m 'fly.

National coach Attila Selmeci has been in charge of the Maltese national swimming squad for the past three and a half years.

Apart from the various swimming meets organised at the national pool, the Maltese team have been competing in various international competitions in the run-up to the GSSE.

These include the Solar Challenge Cup in Munich, the Sindelfingen International Swimming Championships in Germany, as well as a training camp in Catania.

Galea also took part in the fifth Luxembourg Euro Meet in the third week of January.

Roberta Callus, the national record holder in the 400 and 800 metres freestyle, is another member of the Maltese GSSE team.

She has registered some good progress, particularly in the 800 metres event in which she has managed to improve her personal best by over 10 seconds in the past two years.

Lara Callus will be competing in the 100 and 200 metres backstroke. This swimmer managed fourth place in San Marino in the 200 metres backstroke and will be hoping for another encouraging performance in front of the Maltese fans next month.

Malta's squad will also include youngsters Davina Mangion and Nikki Abela. Both have been training steadily as reflected by the improvement in their personal bests in their respective events.

Mangion, the youngest member of the team who holds the records for the 50m free and 50 and 100m 'fly in her age group, will be competing alongside Galea in the 100m and 200m 'fly.

Abela will be eyeing the final in the 100m and 200 metres breast-stroke

Two swimmers in men's squad

The men's squad is made up of Neil Agius and Mark Buttigieg. Agius has recently established a new national record in the 800 metres freestyle and is the national record holder in the 1,500 metres freestyle. As the 800 metres freestyle is not included in the Games programme, Agius will be competing in the 1,500 metres freestyle.

Since the San Marino Games two years ago, Agius has bettered his personal best in the event by some 35 seconds. Agius will also be participating in the 400 metres freestyle.

Buttigieg will be competing in the 100m and 200m breast-stroke. His sights are set on obtaining good times in the heats to win a place in the final.

Today, the national swimming squad will travel to Lisbon, Portugal, to compete in an international swimming meet. The squad will then return to Malta for the final tapering phase before the Games start.

The national championships are scheduled to be held a week after the end of the GSSE.

Galea, Roberta Callus and Agius are also expected to compete in Barcelona at the end of July.

GSSE programme

Swimming events will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Heats will be run in the morning with the finals held in the afternoon.

Morning sessions start at 10 a.m. and afternoon sessions at 5 p.m.