Right from the start, Luca Vella and Rossana Oddi appeared to be the swimmers to beat at this year’s Garmin BSJ Open Water Swimming Championships, hosted by Birkirkara St Joseph Sports Club.
The Championships, held under the auspices of the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta consisted of six races – five on a 2km course and one on a 4km course. The races also served as a qualifying run for the forthcoming Garmin Malta – Gozo – Malta and Garmin Malta – Gozo Malta Open Water Competitions, which will take place on the 21st September 2024.
Luca Vella secured his third National title, following victories in 2021 and 2023. Vella showcased a consistent performance throughout the Championships. Despite his strong showing, he faced strong competition from Sam Camilleri and Giuseppe Borg, both of whom frequently found themselves on the race podium, keeping the contest competitive.
Rossana Oddi, a newcomer to the Championships, followed a similar path as Vella, having been unbeaten throughout the Championships. Following her on the overall podium were Kaitlyn Muscat and Michela Camilleri. The latter two also featured regularly on the race podium.
Trophies were presented to the Overall and Age Group Winners at the end of the Race by Club Board Member Joseph Farrugia.
“Once again, the Garmin BSJ Open Water National Swimming Championships drew a strong field of swimmers across all levels. We extend our thanks to all the swimming clubs and athletes for their continued support,” remarked Euchar Camilleri, Club Secretary. “Our sincere gratitude also goes to Garmin Malta, a longstanding supporter of these championships.”
The Club will now turn its attention to the forthcoming channel swims, which will take place on Saturday 21st September. Registrations are open online on the Club’s Website – https://bsj.mt/event/2024-gozo-malta-open-water-swimming-competition/