‘Not The Outcome I Expected’: Maltese Olympian Sasha Gatt Tests Positive For Covid-19 After Race
Malta’s 19-year-old Olympian @sasha_gatt has opened up on the incredible opportunity in Paris yesterday… and the hardships before and after the race which included testing positive for Covid-19.
“After years of preparation and sacrifices boiling down to one moment, my journey at the Paris Olympic Games ends here,” Gatt wrote last night following an emotional afternoon which saw her placing third out of three swimmers at the gruelling 1,500-metre freestyle heat. “I’m overly grateful and thankful to be. Coming from a small island like Malta and reaching a world stage like the Olympic Games twice in my career is an incredible feeling.”
“My performance was definitely not the outcome I expected or the result of the hard work l’ve put in,” Gatt said, after only managing a time of just over 17 minutes for the swim. “Only a very few people actually know how much l’ve been through these past three years and how much I fought to be here.”
“Unfortunately after feeling unwell I tested positive for Covid after my race however I still went out there today and gave it my best shot not only for myself but for my coach who has been by my side through every single good and bad moment,” the young Olympian, who was actually also Malta’s flagbearer for this edition, wrote.
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“And my family who is the best support system I could ever ask for.”
Going on to also thank everyone for “the overwhelming support over the last 24 hours”, Gatt said she was receiving a lot of help “in achieving a speedy recovery to get back to supporting Team Malta”.
Congrats Sasha for representing our islands on the biggest sporting stage there is and here’s hoping you get a speedy recovery!
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