Young swimmers to get international experience in Malta
A squad of 14 young Guernsey swimmers will be diving into the unknown when they compete at the Malta Invitational Games this week.
Team manager Sara Parfit has highlighted the Maltese event, which resembles a mini Island Games for U15 and U18 athletes, as an opportunity for these youngsters to gain experience for future international competition.
The invitational is taking place for just the second time and also includes water polo, badminton and taekwondo, though it is only in swimming that Guernsey will have representation.
Sixteen nations are set to compete across the sports in total.
Given that Josh Dunning and Delphine Riley are the only existing Island Games swimmers in the squad, with Erin Watterson having competed at Youth Commonwealths level, it looks a big step up for the majority.
‘For a lot of these swimmers, they will not have ever done an international meet,’ Parfit said.
‘The first time they would normally get the opportunity to do that is probably an Island Games.
‘This is a great opportunity for them to get that experience on the international circuit in preparation of going to an Island Games, a Youth Commonwealth Games, or a Commonwealth Games.’
Parfit called it a ‘great privilege’ for all the swimmers who get to represent Guernsey.
‘While many have swum in an inter-insular, they have not represented Guernsey in a competition other than against Jersey, so that’s a little bit special for them.
‘When they put on that tracksuit that says Guernsey on it, it’s a special moment for them.’
However, a question mark hangs over the level of competition the Oak-supported team will be facing.
The entries across the sports include not only those in the Island Games family but several larger countries, so even Parfit is in the dark about who they will be up against – not that it matters too much.
‘I think we can swim fast wherever. We don’t need other competitors to go fast.
‘We have some amazing swimmers and we might fare a little better than other islands. We don’t really know.
‘It’s a positive experience whatever happens. They will learn a lot from the international experience – similar to an Island Games.’
The Malta Invitational Games are set to run from Friday to Sunday, though the current programme suggests that competitive swimming will only take place on the final afternoon.
Guernsey squad
U18s: Josh Dunning, Erin Watterson, Delphine Riley, Chloe Bown, Elodie Riley
U15s: Henry Bolton, Cooper Robinson, Zach Maiden, Spike Jinks, Samuel Cann, Jess Boyle, Emily Hyland, Emma Bourgaize, Megan Carter
