In the wake of the 2013 ASA swimming championships, which ended last Sunday, one can notice certain trends in the performances of local swimmers which have long been emerging and which definitely need addressing.
There is no doubt that dedication within the ranks of the younger swimmers has been whipped up in recent years. The clubs’ coaches and the co-operation of parents have contributed to this upsurge in interest.
Evidence of this is the increased number of clubs and swimmers participating in the sport coupled with numerous personal bests and records in the age categories.
It should be noted here that the championships and season results indicated that the records were more abundant in the middle ‘B’ and ‘C’ age-groups, with only one group ‘D’ male swimmer showing up in terms of new marks. National limits were set in three relay males’ events.
Otherwise the performance graph of the open category swimmers continues to decline in the individual events with only two new limits being set during the season, in the 100 free and 200 IM.
The overall picture reveals a slowdown in the achievement of swimmers who go just past the puberty age.
Reasons for this could range from lack of interest as the boys and especially the girls enter a new phase in their lives, the oft mentioned clash between aca-demic preparation and sport and lack of funds to encourage the swimmers to pursue the sport further.
In this regard it is pertinent to state that two of our most successful swimmers in the senior category, Andrew Chetcuti and Matthew Zammit, are both based abroad, probably thanks to adequate funding provided by their parents.
Whatever the reasons are behind this dip in the perfor-mance levels as soon as our swimmers enter the group ‘D’ stage and then pass on to the senior bracket, a proper think tank followed by corrective measures could improve a situation which has seen our swimmers unable to reach the required standards to compete honourably overseas, particularly in the Games of the Small States of Europe, the main reference point of this sport.
While the highs of the season just over are reflected in the increasing number of swimmers in the junior events, the number of records in the age categories and the achievements of Chet-cuti, Zammit, Neil Muscat and Julian Harding as well as those of Edward Caruana Dingli, Michaela Millo, Pia Grech, Andrea Bellia and Kristina Fino (all record-breakers this season), the lows are the records vacuum in group ‘A’ and the lack of progress of most girls and many open category swimmers.
While acknowledging the contribution throughout the season and during this year’s championships by our coaches and clubs, spearheaded by Neptunes WPSC who provided most of the winners in last week’s nationals followed by Sirens ASC, Sliema ASC, SW Elite and Inspire, the avid followers of Maltese swimming would welcome a significant leap in our overall standards to offset the shortcomings resulting from any derailment in older category swimmers.
Records set in this year’s ASA championships:
National (Men)
4x50 metres medley relay – 1:46.00 (Neptunes) Neil Muscat, Julian Harding, Andrew Chetcuti, Matthew Zammit (previous – 1:49.71)
4x50 free – 1.37.40 (Neptunes) Raoul Stafrace, Matthew Zammit, Neil Muscat, Andrew Chetcuti (1:38.78)
4x100 freestyle relay – 3: 34.75 (Neptunes) Matthew Zammit, Raoul Stafrace, Edward Caruana Dingli, Andrew Chetcuti (previous – 3:35.18)
Age-Group (Boys)
Group C: Neil Muscat – 50 free 25.12 (25.14); 100 free 55.63 (56.02); 200 free 2:03.35 (2:03.43 50 back - 28.26 (28.45).
Group D: Julian Harding – 50 fly 25.60 (26.35); 100 fly 57.74 (57.92 200 IM 2:15.38 (2:17.12).