The 2020 Olympic Games are set to get underway in Tokyo, Japan on Friday, bringing together the finest athletes that several countries around the world have to offer.
This year’s edition of the Olympic Games presents a new challenge for the athletes, with there being strict protocols imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing the athletes to isolate and remain in their own bubble during the competition.
Malta will be sending six of the finest athletes that the country has available to the games, with four of the Olympians heading to the games for the first time, while the other two have already represented Malta in previous editions.
Let’s take a look at the six Olympians that will be representing the country during the games.
Eleanor Bezzina
Indoor Pistol Shooting
The first of two returning competitors in the Olympic Games, Eleanor Bezzina is making her second appearance in the games after competing in the 2016 edition in Rio, Brazil.
The Maltese athlete started her journey in indoor pistol shooting in 2009, and she has not looked back since, winning gold and silver medals at the Games of the Small States of Europe.
She will be competing on July 25.
Matthew Abela – Badminton Matthew Abela will become the first Maltese athlete to compete in badminton at the Olympic Games this summer. The 22-year-old currently holds the title of being men’s singles national champion, and he has also won plenty of junior titles across his career so far. He will be competing on the court on July 24, being just one of two male athletes representing Malta in the games.
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Andrew Chetcuti
Swimming
Andrew Chetcuti is Malta’s most experienced athlete heading to Tokyo 2020, with him also competing in the 2012 and 2016 editions of the Olympic Games.
The 28-year-old has plenty of silver and bronze medals at the Games of the Small States of Europe, and he currently holds five individual national records and also two in relays, with him specialising in freestyle and butterfly swimming categories.
He will be competing on July 27.
Matthew Abela
Badminton
Matthew Abela will become the first Maltese athlete to compete in badminton at the Olympic Games this summer.
The 22-year-old currently holds the title of being men’s singles national champion, and he has also won plenty of junior titles across his career so far.
He will be competing on the court on July 24, being just one of two male athletes representing Malta in the games.
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Sasha Gatt
Swimming
Sasha Gatt is Malta’s youngest athlete competing in the Olympics this year, still only 16-years-old.
The young swimmer has managed to prove her talent once again this year, breaking plenty of national records, most of which had been set by herself, with the most recent achievement being breaking the national record in the 1,500-metre freestyle at the European Junior Championships in Rome, Italy.
Apart from the 1,500-metre events, she will also be competing in the 400-metre ones this year in Tokyo.
Yazmin Zammit Stevens
Weightlifting
Yazmin Zammit Stevens will make history in Tokyo 2020, becoming the first female athlete to represent Malta in the sport of weightlifting at the Olympic Games.
Zammit Stevens managed to set two national records earlier this year in the Snatch at the European Championships in Russia, and she has spent her time training with the national team abroad, recently having a five-week training camp in Romania to prepare for the games.
She will be competing in the 64kg women’s category on July 27.
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With plenty of talent set to take centre-stage in the Olympic Games this summer, Malta has several athletes capable of bringing back home glory.
Good luck to all of the athletes this summer!
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