Team Malta enjoyed a fairytale start to the 2025 GSSE after ending the first day of competition with a healthy tally of 16 medals, giving themselves a real headstart in the 20th edition of the biennial Games.
After a solid start to the day with medals in karate, swimming, and table tennis, it was the turn of the track and field and gymnasts to cap a fine day for Malta with a flurry of medals.
In athletics, Gina McNamara was Malta’s top performer when she won the team’s first gold medal on the track with a stunning late finish in the 800m to retain the title she won in Malta two years ago.
McNamara’s reign as champion looked in doubt when she trailed in third place after 600 metres of the race.
But she then turned on the style to leapfrog team-mate Janet Richard and Cypriot Stavrini Filippou for a nail-biting win in a time of 2.10.01.
Filippou was second in 2.10.85 with Richard holding on for bronze in 2:11.85.
“The way how it went the race was something I trained for and it went perfectly well,” McNamara said.
“So I am very happy. No doubt this result will increase my confidence to keep contributing to the team. Now I have the 1,500m and the 5K and hopefully I can win more medals.”
On her part, Richard was delighted to medal on her debut in the 800m.
“This year we decided to switch to 800m and this was my first international race on the distance, so I am a bit green on it. But the debut went well and I’m happy to go home with a medal.”
In the men’s race, there was heartbreak for Jared Micallef, as the sprinter was beaten at the finish line by Andorran Pol Moya Betriu, who took gold in 1:47.85 with Micallef clocking 1:48.21.
Isaac Bonnici, on his GSSE debut, was seventh in 1:54.64.
However, Bonnici, Micallef, and Richard again stole the show on the final race of the day as they teamed up with Martha Spiteri to put on a fine comeback and secure the silver medal in 3:27.76.
The Maltese quartet was pipped to gold by Cyprus (3:27.02) while Andorra took bronze in 3:29.19.
Beppe Grillo and Thea Parnis Coleiro added a bronze medal each for Team Malta in their respective finals when placing third overall.
Grillo, after clocking a fast time of 10.46 in the heat, failed to match that standard and clocked 10.62 to finish behind Francesca Sansovini, of San Marino, who clocked 10.56 while Iceland’s Kolbeinn Gunnarson was second in 10.61.
In the women’s race, Parnis Coleiro, in her first ever appearance in the Games, defied the odds when she stormed home in 11.83.
Cypriot Olivia Fotopoulou took gold in 11.61 while Alessandra Gasparelli second in 11.73.
Jemima Farley won her first medal in a GSSE when placing second in the 10,000 metres race.
Farley completed the distance in 35:51.69 with Andorra’s Jessica Martin taking gold in 35:08.01 while Alicia Sophie HY Finnis, of Cyprus, was third in 36.22.71.
Note: This coverage is being brought to you by National Lottery.
Author
