Youth Olympic Games: First time Maltese athletes enter final rounds at such Games

Team Malta has concluded its participation at the 4th Summer Youth Olympic Games, held in Dakar, Senegal, from 31 October to 13 November 2026. These were the first Olympic Games ever held on the African continent.

Malta was represented by five athletes in athletics, swimming and artistic gymnastics. Their places were allocated by the International Olympic Committee from the disciplines that the Maltese Olympic Committee had submitted as its preferences.

Swimmers Sam Camilleri and Yulya Anne Bonnici were Malta’s flag bearers at the Opening Ceremony.

In swimming, Sam Camilleri was due to compete in 800m freestyle race, his main event, which was cancelled because of technical problem. He went on to compete in the 400m and the 200m butterfly. In the 200m butterfly he qualified for the final, where he finished sixth, the first Maltese swimmer to reach a final in such Games. Yulya Anne Bonnici competed in the women’s 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle.

In athletics, Matthew Azzopardi competed in the 800m. In a tactical heat, he stayed with the pack during the first lap and moved up on the final bend to finish fifth in 1:58.09, earning a place in the final. In the final, he placed seventh in 1:58.77. Nick Bonett competed in the 400m semi-final and finished sixth in his heat in 50.06.

In artistic gymnastics, Janet Galea competed in the all-around and scored 44.965, placing 31st in the final classification. She performed a clean vault and debuted a new skill on beam. A fall on the uneven bars cost her 2.4 points. She ended her competition on floor, her strongest apparatus.

Charlene Attard, Director of Sport, said: “The Youth Olympic Games offered an interesting and exciting, albeit challenging, experience for our athletes. The cancellation of Sam’s main event was a disappointment, but he proved himself by finishing in sixth place in the final round. Having a two finalists and very solid performances by the other three athletes shows that the MOC’s strategy to focus on youth development is continuing to strengthen our objectives, that to compete at such high level competition”

Team Malta was led by Chef de Mission Johanna Grech, whilst athletes were assisted by Natalya Berehova, Andria Friggieri and Tiziana Zammit

The Maltese Olympic Committee thanked the International Olympic Committee, the national federations, coaches, officials and families for their support of the athletes throughout their preparation and participation in Dakar.