Charlene Attard, the Director of Sport at the Maltese Olympic Committee, is calling on all Maltese athletes to deliver their best performances at this year’s Paris Olympics, while acknowledging the significant journey ahead before Malta can vie for medals.
Team Malta will proudly be represented by five athletes in Paris: sprinter Beppe Grillo, shooter Gianluca Chetcuti, swimmers Sasha Gatt and Kyle Micallef, and judoka Katryna Esposito.
Attard emphasized that the Olympic Games represent the zenith of international sports, where the world’s elite athletes compete for glory. Given the extraordinary talent pool, she admitted that winning medals is a challenging goal for Malta.
Reflecting on past achievements, Attard noted that the Tokyo Games saw San Marino, a similarly small European nation, secure three medals through shooters Alessandra Perilli and Gian Marco Berti, and wrestler Myles Amine. Malta’s best Olympic result to date was by double trap shooter William Chetcuti, who finished eighth at the Beijing Games in 2008.
Attard believes that Malta’s path to Olympic success involves a long-term strategy and extensive groundwork. “To win an Olympic medal, you need a minimum of eight years of high-level training,” she said.
She highlighted that shooting is particularly unpredictable. “Every athlete at the Olympics, including our own Gianluca Chetcuti, is world-class. Gianluca holds the European Games record in trap shooting, hitting 124 out of 125 clays. It’s all about who performs best mentally and physically on the day.”
The MOC is learning from other countries’ tactics to help Maltese athletes qualify by ranking, focusing on the most beneficial events for earning points. This effort aims to increase Malta’s contingent for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Discussing the preparation for the Paris Games, Attard revealed that over 20 athletes from seven disciplines initially aimed to make the team. Each athlete had a personalized program and engaged in training camps and competitions, often traveling bi-weekly to compete.
“Our selected athletes have since honed their training to peak for the Games, while others have shifted focus to upcoming competitions,” Attard said. She stressed that the primary goal in Paris is for the athletes to break their personal bests or national records, highlighting the high competition level at the Games.
“It’s crucial that they leave Paris with their heads held high, knowing they gave everything for their nation and personal growth,” said Attard, herself a former sprinter.
Attard noted the increased investment in technical preparation in recent years, particularly following Malta’s record medal haul at the GSSE. This support has bolstered athletes, proving that proper investment can yield significant results. However, she remains cautious, emphasizing the need for humility and continuous improvement.
Looking ahead, Attard aspires for Maltese athletes to qualify for the Olympics by merit, reaching the required rankings or performances. “This would signify a major leap forward for us,” she said, acknowledging that only a select number of athletes will achieve this step.
She also pointed out administrative challenges that need addressing, such as reducing repetitive paperwork, which diverts energy from athlete support. Attard commended Maltese athletes for their willingness to train abroad and adapt to higher standards set by the MOC and federations.
“The better results our athletes achieve, the more support they will receive. This approach, modeled after other successful National Olympic Committees, aims to elevate our performance in international competitions,” Attard concluded.
