Warren Schembri knew he had secured the gold medal in the table tennis singles when he realised he was beating his opponent by seven points.

The cheerful 17-year-old had spent the previous 20 months training intensively to secure victory at the Special Olympics in Los Angeles, and was determined to win.

“I was aiming for the gold and I knew I would win it, because I had placed second when I first competed in the challenging Belgium Summer Games last year.

“I said to myself, after the silver, the gold is next,” he told this newspaper, just before heading for another bout of training.

Mr Schembri is one of 22 Maltese athletes from the Special Olympics Malta delegation that this year scooped a total of 24 medals: seven gold, 10 silver and seven bronze.

Mr Schembri placed first in the table tennis male singles and second in the doubles with Christabel Borg, who also won gold in the singles.

Table tennis means everything for the young man.

“I cannot live without table tennis, and the opportunity to compete in these competitions gives me new life.”

Sitting next to him, swimmer Charmaine Mifsud also won gold and silver medals – in the 100m and 200m breaststroke.

Unlike Mr Schembri, she did not realise she had won – and achieved her personal best – when she reached the other end of the pool. “I didn’t realise until my coach told me. I was of course giving all my best because for me it was a great responsibility – and satisfaction – to be carrying the Maltese flag,” the 21-year-old said, noting she had been training and competing for nine years. This year Malta competed in six different disciplines, with the eldest – gymnast Nathalie Galea – aged 33 and the youngest – athlete Alec Falzon – aged 11.

Annemarie Bugeja, 12, was the youngest gymnast within the skill level she was competing in. She placed second in the vault and beam competitions and won bronze in the bars and as an all-rounder.

The Skolasport student felt the pressure when it was her turn to go under the spotlight.

“It was difficult because the other competitors had a high standard. I was scared at the beginning but then managed to rid myself of my fears before starting my sequences.”

At 12, the young gymnast has already tried other sport disciplines, but “never giving up”, decided to focus on gymnastics.

“You should never give up in life, there is an opportunity for everyone,” she said.

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