Maltese swimmers failed to land any medals on the opening day of the swimming programme at the Limassol Pool today.

Nicky Muscat just missed out on a place in the podium in the 200m backstroke when she finished fourth in 2:27.92 while Nicole Cremona was sixth on 2:28.70.

Fourteen-year old Sarah Rolko (Lux) took gold when she won the race in a new Games record of 2.15.77. Johanna Gustafsdottir, of Iceland, was second in 2.19.82 ahead of Luxembourg’s Dana Gales (2:21.74).

Cremona and Muscat had reached the final of the 200m backstroke after progressing from the morning heats. Cremona clocked the fifth fastest time when stopping the watch on 2:30.81 while Muscat was seventh fastest on 2:32.17. Davina Mangion was a distant fifth in the 200 metres butterfly final when completing the four-lap distance in 2:27.93.

San Marino’s Simona Muccioli won the gold medal in 2:18.21 ahead of Cyprus’s Anna Schoholeva (2:19.56) and Liechtenstein’s Julia Hassler (2.21.03).

Talisa Pace and Melinda Sue Micallef were the other two Maltese swimmers in action when they swam the 100m freestyle heats but failed to progress. Pace finished just outside the top-eight placings when clocking the ninth fastest time in 1.01.25 just ahead of Melinda Sue Micallef who improved her previous best with 1.01.33.

Maltese swimmers will be again in action tomorrow when Cremona and Muscat race in the 100m backstroke, Mangion competes in the 100m fly and Micallef is pencilled to compete in the 100m breastroke. Pace, Micallef, Mangion and Cremona then wrap up the day when they race in the 4x200 metres freestyle relay.