Watch: Bohl, Micallef bring home swimming Gold

Women’s medley team scores Bronze

Malta may have had to wait 19 years for a Gold medal in swimming but the relay team’s win on Tuesday may have opened a pandora’s box as Maltese swimmers Georgia Bohl and Kyle Micallef both won Gold on Thursday at the National Pool.

Bohl had already won silver on Wednesday in the 200m breaststroke event, only losing out on first place with .2 of a second. This time around, she gave her opponents no chance as she steamed her way to victory.

Speaking to the Times of Malta after the race, Bohl said she much more of a sprinter.

“I’m really happy with that race. I feel like I raced it pretty well and I’m just really proud to be representing Malta,” Bohl said. 

“I think I’m a bit more of a sprinter so I think  it will help me in the 50 as well and the 4×100 medley too. So I’m much enjoy those sprint events.”

Similarly, Micallef, in the 50m freestyle, was a force to be reckoned with as he finished at 22.68 after a fantastic swim.

“I think the 50m is such a fast event that you have to be 100% in and first to get your hand on the wall so I’m just super happy to get it over and to win obviously – winning’s what you want so I’m super happy,” Micallef said.

Asked about the motivation to do better after finishing fifth on Tuesday in the 100m race, Micallef admitted Thursday’s race was more his style.

“50m is my main event – the 100m is a little bit more difficult for me so getting back to that 50, that fewer speed is what I’m good at so I’m happy to get to the 50m.”

Wednesday’s morning session saw both Bohl and Micallef top their heats which already given a clear indication of what was to come as Bohl finished first with a time of 1:10.20, as did Micallef in his heat at 22.77.

In the finals, starting off the racing for Malta was Francesca Falzon Young in the women’s 50m freestyle. The Malta silver medallist with the 4×200 m relay team, finished seventh this time after a time of 27.36.

Next was Micallef who kept up his momentum from having achieved the top spot earlier in the day to power home and win the Gold.

As if the first Gold wasn’t enough for the numerous supporters in the stands, up came Bohl in what she had described as her favourite race. In a time of 1:09.49, the Malta swimmer cruised to victory as Malta celebrated its third swimming Gold of the Games.

Team events were next on the cards as the Gold medal winners were called upon again for the 4x100m medley relay event.

In the women’s event, Victoria Balderacchi was in the pool first for the backstroke. Bohl took charge with the breaststroke yet again, Nirvana Micallef swam the butterfly, and Mya Azzopardi finished with the freestyle. Despite an impressive start, thing got harder towards the end but Malta finished with Bronze nonetheless after a 4:18.69 finish.

In the final event, the men’s 4x100m medley. Nathan Mcleave stepped up for the backstroke, Andrea Mallia swam the backstroke, as Simon Mallia did the butterfly, while Gold-medallist Micallef finished off with the freestyle. Unlike the women right before, the men finished fourth with a time of 3:53.06.

Swimming continues on Friday with another programme of events as medals will be won in the 50m backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly for both men and women. Following that are the 400m medley as well as the 1,500m freestyle race. 

Follow our live blog for more GSSE2023 updates…