Watch: Matthew Galea Soler Becomes Malta’s First-Ever Medallist At The European Youth Olympic Festival
One young Maltese sprinter made history after walking away with a bronze medal in the 400m race at the European Youth Olympic Festival, in Slovakia.
Matthew Galea Soler bagged a national record-breaking time of 48.84 as he stormed through the track to become Malta’s first-ever medallist at the EYOF games.
In doing so, he also smashed a new national record in the under-18, under-20, and under-23 age groups, aside from setting a new personal best. Prior to this achievement, his best time in the same race was 49.09, set last June.
Israel’s Noam Mamu won the gold medal after topping the race with a time of 47.60 seconds.
The EYOF games kicked off on Sunday 24th July and will carry till the 30th July.
It is a biennial multi-sport event for youth athletes from the 50 member countries of the Association of European Olympic Committees. The festival was held for the first time in Brussels in 1991.
Malta joins around 3000 athletes, aged between 14 and 18 years of age, to compete in Athletics and Artistic Gymnastics.
While Matthew Galea Soler competed in 200m and 400m, Philippa Busuttil hit the Beam, Floor, Uneven Bars, and Vault events while Mireya Bugeja represents Malta in the 800m.
Matthew, take a bow!