Malta returned from the World Triathlon Age Group Championships in Pontevedra, Spain with two silver medals and a series of strong performances across the competition.
Danica Bonello Spiteri and Ryan Muscat both reached the World Championship podium during the championships, held between 24 and 26 September.
Two silver medals for Malta
Bonello Spiteri claimed silver in the 45 to 49 Age Group Sprint Distance World Championships, adding another international result to her triathlon career.
Muscat secured Malta’s second silver medal in the 20 to 24 Age Group Aquabike World Championships.
According to the Malta Triathlon Federation, the results placed Malta 22nd among the 67 national federations represented at the championships. The federation also said Malta ranked 22nd among the 167 federations enrolled with World Triathlon.
Young Maltese athletes make their mark
Malta’s younger competitors also produced notable performances in Pontevedra, with several taking part in their first World Age Group Championships.
Liam Daly came particularly close to another medal, finishing fourth, while Zia Fujii secured fifth place in her age group. Aiden Muscat completed his first World Age Group Championship in 17th place.
Ben Psaila and Julian Villate also represented Malta in the Sprint Distance event, while Reuben Zammit was the only Maltese athlete to complete the Standard Distance event.
For Daly, Fujii and Aiden Muscat, the championships marked their first experience competing at World Age Group Championship level.
Building Malta’s presence in international triathlon
The Malta Triathlon Federation described the performances as an encouraging result for the country’s development in the sport, particularly as Maltese athletes continue to gain experience against international competition.
The federation said it intends to continue investing in athlete development through its performance pathway, development programmes, coaching and technical education, as well as opportunities for Maltese athletes to compete internationally.
With two World Championship silver medals and young athletes finishing as high as fourth and fifth, the Pontevedra championships delivered a significant set of results for Malta’s triathlon contingent.
