The Maltese Olympic Committee (MOC) has announced the athletes who will represent Malta at three major international multi-sport events over the coming months.
Between July 23 and August 2, Team Malta will be in action at the XXIII Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
A couple of weeks later, another Maltese contingent will be in action at the XX Mediterranean Games in Taranto between August 21 and September 3.
Malta will then be represented at the Summer Youth Olympic Games in Dakar between October 31 and November 13.
Director of Sport Charlene Attard explained that selection was based on criteria which were made public and shared with all prospective members of the contingent.
“The criteria were built on international results against which we want to benchmark ourselves, and were developed in collaboration with the respective sporting federations,” she said.
Among the athletes announced, a number bring significant medal-winning experience at these Games.
Connie Rixon and Katryna Esposito are both Commonwealth Games bronze medallists from Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022, in lawn bowls and judo respectively.
At Mediterranean Games level, Stefan Farrugia claimed bronze at Tarragona in raffa, and Elaine Genovese won silver at Oran in the women’s tennis doubles.
Alongside these established medallists, the contingents also include athletes who have demonstrated consistent performances at international level, as well as up-and-coming talent with the potential to make their mark across all three Games.
Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games
Malta’s participation at the Commonwealth Games falls under the responsibility of the Commonwealth Games Association Malta, the governing authority for Commonwealth Sport in Malta, which is operated by the MOC within the same organisation.
This year’s Games mark a historic first: for the first time in Maltese sport history, Malta will field a unified Olympic and Paralympic team at a Commonwealth Games.
The inclusion of Para Powerlifting athlete Nick Mercieca in the contingent is a significant milestone that augurs well for the growth of Para sport in Malta.
Malta will be represented in Athletics, Swimming, Para Powerlifting, Judo, Lawn Bowls, Weightlifting and Gymnastics. Dr Lucienne Attard will serve as Chef de Mission.
Connie Rixon (Lawn Bowls) has been named as Malta’s flag bearer for the Opening Ceremony.
The baton bearer will be para powerlifter Nick Mercieca, who will compete in the lightweight men’s category and was identified as a Para athlete with strong performance potential and has the full support of the MOC for the Games and beyond.
“Malta has a strong record at the Commonwealth Games, with Maltese athletes delivering some of the country’s most notable results in these Games,” Attard said.
“Building on that momentum, the contingent travels to Glasgow with genuine ambitions of adding to Malta’s medal tally.”
The full Maltese contingent for Glasgow will consist of:
Artistic Gymnastics – Philippa Busuttil, Lyana Curmi Inguanez, Sophie St John
Athletics – Claire Azzopardi, Omar El Aida Chaffey, Matthew Galea Soler, Gina McNamara, Jared Micallef, Rachela Pace, Graham Pellegrini
Judo – Katryna Esposito, James Zahra
Lawn Bowls – Troy Lorimer, Shaun Parnis, Connie Rixon, Rebecca Rixon
Para Powerlifting – Nick Mercieca
Swimming – Sasha Gatt
Weightlifting – Rylee Borg, Kim Camilleri Lagana, Roberta Tabone, Tenishia Thornton
Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games
At the Mediterranean Games, Malta will compete in Badminton, Boules, Cycling, Skeet Shooting, Taekwondo and Wrestling. Charlene Attard will serve as Chef de Mission.
Andre Cassar (Skeet Shooting) and Francesca Clark (Badminton) have been named as Malta’s flag bearers.
Athletics – Claire Azzopardi, Dillon Cassar, Jared Micallef, Luke Micallef Perconte
Badminton – Sam Cassar, Francesca Clark, Martina Clark
Cycling – Aidan Buttigieg, Bernard Galea, Andrea Mifsud
Karate – Thyis Antonelli
Raffa – Stefan Farrugia
Rowing – Mark Schembri
Sailing – Mia Busuttil, Matthew Flores, Katrina Micallef, Benjamin Vassallo
Shooting – Eleanor Bezzina, Andre Cassar, Liam Sciberras
Taekwondo – Alycia Cassar
Tennis – Alex Degabriele, Liam Delicata, Elaine Genovese, Emma Montebello
Triathlon – Kai Azzopardi, Danica Bonello Spiteri, Ryan Muscat
Wrestling – Nico Zarb
Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games
Malta will be represented in Gymnastics and Swimming at the first Olympic event to be held on African soil. Johanna Grech will serve as Chef de Mission.
Yulya Ann Bonnici and Samuel Camilleri have been named as Malta’s flag bearers.
Artistic Gymnastics – Janet Galea
Athletics – Matthew Azzopardi, Nick Bonett
Swimming– Yulya Ann Bonnici, Samuel Camilleri
MOC president Julian Pace Bonello said: “Each of the athletes we announced today has earned their place – through qualification standards, through results, and through years of quiet sacrifice: early mornings, long evenings, and countless hours of training that nobody sees. They have earned the right to compete, not merely to participate.
“That is a distinction we are proud of, and one that reflects the direction Maltese sport has taken in recent years.”
Director of Media & PR Maria Vella Galea noted that the MOC will publish daily updates throughout the duration of the Games, which will also be available on the MOC website and the Committee’s social media channels.
The Maltese Olympic Committee thanked is partners, Government of Malta through Sport Malta, the National Development and Social Fund, European Olympic Committees, Olympic Solidarity and APS Bank.
