Good performances by Triathlon Malta athletes in London World Championships

Malta was represented in two race categories. Secretary General Maria Vella-Galea took part in the Age Group Sprint Distance (750m swim, 22.5k cycle and 5km run) on Friday, the day where the most appalling conditions were registered and where over forty triathletes crashed their bikes and were unable to complete the race.

The team fielded in the Age Group Standard Distance, consisted of National Triathlon Champions Keith Galea and Danica Bonello Spiteri, National Duathlon Champion Michelle Vella Wood, European Championship Age Group Gold Medal winner Hannah Pace, Graham Borg and Luke Bonnici competed on Sunday under better conditions although the swim distance was halved due to the adverse water temperature.

"The World Championships see a field of over 5,000 athletes, which makes the Age Group Categories heavily contested. Whilst Malta did not have podium finishes this time round, the race times achieved show that our athletes are improving and further strengthening their performances" said Cyprian Dalli, President of the Malta Triathlon Federation. "We are pleased to see very good placings by all our athletes, and we are confident that such races further strengthen our athletes' experience.

During the course of the weekend, the Maltese delegation were able to experience Elite racing, watching at close range athletes like the Brownlee Brothers, Javier Gomez, who pipped Jonathan Brownlee to the post of World champion by just half a second after a hard fought race, Non Stanford's prowess to win the female category despite gaining a 15 second penalty in the first transition, Jodie Stimpson, and Anne Hauge.

Cyprian Dalli and Maria Vella-Galea also participated in the International Triathlon Union World Congress wherein over 89 countries took part. Apart from being kept up to date with the progress the World's Triathlon Governing body is making in the interest of the sport, the Congress is an excellent networking forum which should enable small Federations to seek and obtain development opportunities.