The National Pool Complex in Tal-Qroqq became a hub of elite aquatic talent from 1st to 4th April 2026, as the 33rd edition of the Easter International Swimming Meet delivered a masterclass in competitive swimming.

This year’s meet carried significant weight, having been approved by World Aquatics as an official qualifying competition for the World Swimming Championships in Beijing this coming December.

National Records Shattered

The four-day event was headlined by three sensational Maltese National Long Course records:

• Matthew Satariano clocked a remarkable 2:07.67 in the 200m Medley.
• Nathan Cachia set a new benchmark in the 200m Butterfly with a time of 2:03.83.
• Sasha Gatt continued her dominance in the 200m Freestyle, recording a new National and Easter Meet Open record of 2:03.60.

In the Age Group categories, Ryan Gauci matched his own record in the 50m Butterfly with a time of 34.38.

Record-Breaking Performances and International Flair

Local clubs made their mark on the Easter Meet record books, most notably Zoe Cawsey of Neptunes WPSC. Cawsey broke the 50m Breaststroke Easter Meet Open record twice in a single day, posting 32.67 in the morning heats before shaving off more time to finish with a 32.27 in the evening final.

The international contingent also raised the bar, with visiting swimmers setting new Easter Meet Open records in the Men’s 200m Butterfly.

A Massive Turnout at Tal-Qroqq

The sheer scale of the 2026 edition underscored the growing prestige of the meet. A total of 390 swimmers competed across 2,047 individual entries and 42 relay team entries.

The participation included:

• 355 swimmers representing 13 local clubs affiliated with the ASA of Malta.
• 35 international swimmers from 9 foreign clubs traveling from the Czech Republic, North Macedonia, Italy, Germany, Luxembourg, and Portugal.

Looking Ahead

Beyond World Championship qualification, the meet served as a vital platform for local swimmers across all age groups to hit qualifying times for various upcoming international competitions. The ASA of Malta is expected to announce the final selections in the coming days.

The success of the event was made possible through the support of SportMalta and the ASA’s swimming sponsors: COOP Services, Go & Fun, and Alternative Technologies.