In the annals of Maltese sports history, the nation’s first-ever participation in the Olympic Games stands as a landmark achievement, paving the way for future generations of athletes to represent the island on the world’s greatest sporting stage.
The memory of the late Nestor Jacono, an affable and outstanding athlete both on and off the running track, has inspired this retrospective on Malta’s pioneering efforts at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, where the country made its Olympic debut in the sport of water polo.
Overcoming Barriers to Participation At the time, the Olympic movement was still largely dominated by the colonial powers, and colonies were often not permitted to participate under their own flags as fully-fledged nations. This elitist policy was exemplified by the case of a famous sprinter from British Guiana, who was forced to compete for Great Britain while studying in London, despite placing second in the 100m event.
The Maltese water polo team, comprising L. Darmanin, J. Nappa, V.F. Busietta, H. Bonavia, C.L. Meme Busietta, E. Magri, and R. Vella, were true trailblazers, representing their country on the global stage despite the political barriers in place. Their historic 3-1 victory over Luxembourg in the opening match marked the beginning of Malta’s Olympic journey.
Paving the Way for Future Generations The present-day Maltese national water polo team can be considered the worthy successors of this gallant squad, upholding the legacy of their pioneering predecessors. In 1936, Malta also participated in the Berlin Olympics, with athlete Austin Cassar Torregiani having the honor of competing against the legendary Jesse Owens in the 100m event.
The appearance of Nestor Jacono at the 1948 London Games, the first post-war Olympics, evokes a scintillating moment when the crowds erupted in shouts of “Brave Malta” as he took to the track for the opening ceremony, further cementing the country’s growing presence on the international sporting landscape.
