Lisa Darmanin was thrilled to win a silver medal for Australia in the mixed Nacra 17 (multihull) event at the Rio Games but she is also proud of her Maltese roots. Valhmor Camilleri caught up with the 24-year-old sailor...

The 2016 Olympic Games have come and gone with Malta having to wait another four years to try and taste the first success of any kind at this level of international sport following a below-par performance from our seven athletes in Rio.

Indeed, Team Malta’s failure to return home from Brazil with a national record or, at least, a couple of personal best times/scores, was very disappointing.

Looking elsewhere, a quick scan at the top-three results in various events at the Games provides us with some comfort though as a sailor of Maltese descent – Lisa Darmanin – succeeded in making it to the podium while representing Australia.

In Rio, the 24-year-old teamed up with her cousin Jason Waterhouse and the pair went on to win a silver medal in the mixed Nacra 17 (multihull) class.

Darmanin and Waterhouse amassed 78 points. They just missed out on the gold by a single point with seasoned Argentina duo Santiago Lange and Cecilia Carranza Saroli securing victory.

Thomas Zajac and Tanja Frank, representing Austria, also finished on 78 points but had to settle for third place as Darmanin and Waterhouse had a superior placing in the medal race.

Darmanin described her achievement as the biggest so far in her career.

“Winning a silver medal at the Olympics has become a highlight of my life,” Darmanin told the Times of Malta on her return ‘Down Under’ from South America.

“When you dedicate so much time of your life and a lot of energy and resources into a goal, it’s so satisfying to come away with a medal. It’s been an amazing journey and I loved racing at the Olympics.”

Darmanin, who was making her first appearance at the Games, said that competition in Rio was very challenging.

“The Olympics is like no other regatta as you have the best in the world competing under immense pressure in extremely testing conditions,” she said.

“Racing was intense and close, and everyone was pushing the limit.

“We had to sail so well to make sure we stood on that podium.

“We’ve had some great results in the past so we knew we could make it in Rio. You always aim for gold but to come away with a silver is something I’m very proud    of, considering this was also my debut in the Games.”

Malta has a special place in Darmanin’s heart. Her grandparents grew up in Valletta and Marsaxlokk before they left their homes in search of a better life in 1952.

“I may be Australian but I am very proud of my Maltese roots,” Darmanin, a bronze medallist at the 2014 World Championship, said.

“My grandparents lived in Malta until 1952 when they came to Australia. I still have many relatives in Malta as well as many relatives here in Australia.

“I did visit Malta in 2005 together with my family. I really enjoyed exploring the islands and I hope to be back some time in the near future.”

When you dedicate so much time of your life and a lot of energy and resources into a goal, it’s so satisfying to come away with a medal

Darmanin said she started practising sailing on the advice of her parents.

“They took me to a sailing club when I was a little girl,” she recounted.

“It took me a while to get acquainted with the sport because, as an eight-year-old, it can be pretty scary at first. But my passion for sailing grew quickly and I loved going out at sea every weekend.”

Darmanin says sailing with Waterhouse was the best decision she could have made.

“We have had an amazing relationship growing up and the bond grew stronger since we started sailing together in 2007,” she said.

“He is a close cousin but also a great friend and we have an awesome time together, travelling the world and competing at the highest level. We support each other through thick and thin… I couldn’t ask for anyone better to race with at the Olympics.”

Malta hosts one of the most popular regattas on the international scene, the Rolex Middle Sea Race, and, although Darmanin rarely features in a race on a yacht, she didn’t close the door on joining the RMSR fleet one day along with Waterhouse.

“I have not done a lot of yacht racing in my career but Jason did,” she said.

“I know that the Rolex MSR is a very prestigious race. I am excited to see what the future holds for me and maybe we’ll be lucky enough to compete in a race in Malta in the future.”

Promoting the sport

Nacra racing is not very popular among Maltese sailors but Darmanin said that, given the opportunity, she would be more than happy to come and promote her favourite discipline here.

“At present, we don’t have contacts with the Malta Sailing Federation,” Darmanin said.

“But from what they told me, Malta is a great place for the sport and if we’re sailing there in future, we would love to promote Nacra 17 racing… it would be something we would definitely take up.”

Australia’s Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin competing in the mixed Nacra 17 event in Rio where they won a silver medal.