Malta has continued its impressive run at the Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE) 2025 in Andorra, securing its 11th gold medal thanks to a stunning performance in the Women’s Duet Technical artistic swimming event.
The duo of Ana Culic and Thea Grima Buttigieg delivered an elegant and technically precise routine during Thursday evening’s final, initially earning what appeared to be the top score. However, their gold medal was momentarily thrown into doubt when a points deduction was applied, citing a technical issue regarding synchronized positioning during the performance.
This prompted an official protest by the Malta Olympic Committee, arguing that the deduction was unjustified. After thorough review, the protest was upheld on Friday morning, restoring the Maltese pair’s full score and awarding them the gold medal.
Culic and Grima Buttigieg finished with a total of 206.3200 points, comfortably ahead of Andorra, who placed second with 198.3920 points, and Liechtenstein, who claimed bronze with 198.0342 points.
This victory not only adds to Malta’s growing medal tally but also underscores the country’s rising stature in artistic swimming. The win is a testament to the athletes’ skill, poise, and the unwavering support of their national delegation in ensuring fair competition.
With this gold, Malta further cements its position as one of the standout performers at GSSE 2025, as the nation continues to chase its best-ever result at the biennial games.
