A close look at our swimmers’ achievements during the year about to come to an end reveals that the momentum of progress has been maintained at satisfactory levels.
The general opinion of several coaches when asked about this year’s achievements was that our swimmers have continued to make positive inroads thanks to sheer hard work and total commitment to the sport.
The main criterion is the number of records that have been established in the different national and age group categories.
The tally is 34 new marks, 21 from the males and 12 from the females, a figure which is almost on a par with that of 2011.
At face value the number of swimmers to insert their names in the record books may not be very impressive, with the total being seven males and eight females.
However, new limits are set only by the very top swimmers and the number of records should be regarded as satisfactory despite numerous individual and team events in the national and age group categories.
On the debit side, four national and eight age group marks are still standing after at least 10 years.
New thresholds in these races have long been overdue, but considering the progress that is being made those old marks should be erased fairly soon. Otherwise records in general have been far from static.
The record-breaking trend shows that the boys are ahead of the girls, a situation that has been reversed since some years ago.
The emergence of Andrew Chetcuti, Andrea Agius, Neil Muscat, Julian Harding, Edward Caruana Dingli, Andrea M. Agius and, until he retired earlier this year, Mark Sammut, has been a major factor in the improvement of the males.
Chetcuti was the outstanding swimmer in the Open male category, with seven individual national records, of which four were in the 25-metre pool, besides forming part of two record-breaking relay quartets.
Muscat came out tops for the second year running in the juniors’ section, having established five individual records and one as a member of the relay national team. He was followed closely by the promising Harding who set four age group marks during the year.
Andrea Agius distinguished himself with three records, one of which was in a short-course race, besides helping the relay teams to two other new limits.
Another junior to insert his name in the record books this year was Matthew Zammit, currently based in England where he trains and competes for renowned swimming club Plymouth Leanders.
Caruana Dingli and Quelin Zammit were also in the records’ list as members of relay squads.
In the females’ races, Amy Micallef broke most records, all set in the age group events.
She had a total of three to her credit while she also briefly held a national record.
Michaela Millo and Nicola Muscat each broke two national records, the former in long and short-course races and the latter in a 25-metre pool.
The girls’ list was completed by five other junior limits which came from Mya Azzopardi, Kristina Fino, Sarah Demicoli, Andrea Bellia and Pia Grech.
Other swimmers may not have been in the limelight since they missed out on records. However, their efforts and the work of their coaches were rewarded by a spate of new personal bests.
National team coach Andy Colbourn, assisted closely by cadets’ mentor Gail Rizzo, were undoubtedly influential in helping their swimmers raise the bar.
It should be more of the same in the coming year.