Maltese athletes are conditioned by a number of limitations – the size of the country, funding opportunities, facilities, resources, and, of course, the weather. Swimming is a sport that naturally aligns with these conditions. On an island that enjoys over 300 days of sunshine, over half a year of adequate sea temperature for bathing, and a culture wherein many children learn to swim before they can walk; swimming is a sport that plays to our nature and our circumstances. It has been a defining part of the Aquatic Sports Association (ASA) since our establishment, and has immovably remained one of the most significant sports in the country.

The ASA’s administration of the sport occurs at a number of levels, and wherever possible seeks to encourage engagement from athletes. Our swimming activities are run by the Swimming Technical Committee composed of club representatives and chaired by the Vice President – Swimming. Time Trials for all age-groups are held every month, thus giving all swimmers the opportunity to gauge their progress.

Our swimmers are our asset. The ASA is proud to have supported a number of talented, successful swimmers including Angela Galea, two-time Olympian, three-time medal winner at the Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE); Neil Agius, national record holder and competitor at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens; Andrew Chetcuti, national record holder and competitor at the 2012 Summer Olympics; Gail Rizzo competitor at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and assistant coach at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, five-time medalist at the Games of the Small States of Europe in three editions; Ryan Gambin, part of the Maltese squad for 2008 European Championships in Eindhoven, Netherlands, and competitor in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; and many more.

Aside from the National Swimming Championships, which are organised annually in June/July, the focus for our National Squad is their participation in the Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE). Historically, Malta has been a key player in these games, winning a number of medals. Our success there is a reflection of our parity when competing with teams of a similar sized outfit to ours. For this reason, the ASA is incredibly proud of our legacy at the GSSEs. Besides this competition, National Team Swimmers also participate in the FINA World Championships and the LEN European Championships, in both long course and short course events.

We also place great value and esteem in our young, developing athletes. Since 1994, the ASA has organised an annual International Age-Group Swimming Meeting on the weekend after Easter. The event has not only become a regular feature of the Association’s calendar but is also eagerly awaited by the foreign clubs which regularly participate in it.

Our swimmers have always been nurtured and championed by a hard-working coach, who is engaged on a full-time basis to lead the National Squad and promote swimming amongst Maltese youths.

We are proud of our swimming reputation, both nationally and internationally, and owe it to energetic administrative staff, accomplished swimmers, and dedicated coaches. We are honoured to be able to have shaped, and to continue to shape, the history of swimming in Malta.