Maltese athletes win 13 medals in Special Olympics

When the Maltese swimmers jumped into the pool at the Special Olympics in Spain they were overcome by a dose of adrenalin that pushed them to win 13 medals between them.

One of the driving forces behind their success was the fact that during these European aquatic games, the six-strong team felt equal to all the athletes around them.

As they swam towards their medals, any differences dissolved and their intellectual disabilities became a uniting factor.

"At the Special Olympics there is a huge feeling of acceptance. All the athletes there are on equal grounds. It's amazing to see the heart they put into the competition," explained Naomi Sultana Micallef, the swimmers' coach.

"The great thing about these Olympics is that they prove to these athletes that they can do it and give them the opportunity to prove themselves," Special Olympics Malta national director Anna Calleja added.

One of the athletes, Alexia Wetz, confessed to her determination: "I knew I would win the gold medal. I worked very hard. I was really happy when I won it," she said as she proudly clutched the round medallion.

She won a gold medal in the 50-metre breast stroke, a silver in the 25-metre relay and a bronze in the 50-metre freestyle.

Her sister, Maria, also managed to claim a gold medal in the 25-metre breaststroke and a silver in the 50-metre freestyle. This, she said, was thanks to her passion for swimming. "I like swimming. It is good exercise," she said with a big smile.

Jean Paul Fenech agreed that swimming was immensely beneficial for his health. In fact, he has been swimming for about five years. During the Olympics he managed to get a silver medal in the relay and bronze medals in the 50-metre freestyle and breaststroke. He is determined to keep competing till he wins gold.

His team mate, Nathaniel Grasso, shares the same determination. He won silver medals for the relay and the 25-metre breaststroke and wants to do better in future.

Fellow athletes Ivan Mangion claimed the bronze in the 25-metre breaststroke and Charmaine Mifsud took home two silver medals for the 50-metre breaststroke and 25-metre relay.

The athletes had been training up to four times a week since May before they set off to the Olympics in Spain between October 14 and 19. The Maltese team was sponsored by the Vodafone Malta Foundation that financed their flights and provided the gear. Special Olympics is an international non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition.