Honestly, Southern Europe’s small nation Malta doesn’t count as an athletics island such like their rivals Cyprus whose led nearly all editions by far since the games begins. The Maltese athletes has been collected a total of 137 athletics medals in previous editions which put them to the fourth place in overall medal table behind Cyprus, Iceland, and Luxembourg.

Now third time hosting the event in Marsa town near Valletta, Malta collected 32 medals in 34 contested events as fifteen of them were gold. It’s the greatest ever feat at any championship for Maltese team as beyond of their expectations even though.

Australian-born Jordan Gusman has doubled in distance events for Malta and broke games’ record both 5000m and 10,000m he contested. On May 30, the 29-year-old runner secured his second 10,000m GSSE title while lapping his closest follower from Luxembourg’s Bob Bertemes and breaking championship record from 1987 by marking 29:37.96. Gusman, who changed allegiance from Australia to Malta in 2019, took another title in 5000 metres with first sub 14 minutes clocking (13:51.77) at the event history.

REPEAT OF JORDAN

Even Jordan repeated his 2019 distance double at the Games, some other athletes contributed more for Malta’s overall tally as one of them was Gina McNamara. University of Michigan student McNamara swept all mid-distances while making “triple crown” with 800, 1500 and 5000 metres. Additionally, her celebration boosts by seven-years younger sister Clare who came third in 800 metres and helped a silver medal for 4x4 relay team. Like McNamara, jumper Clare Azzopardi wins three golds by completing long-triple double plus a relay victory.

Another massive feat for the host nation came in one of the last finals in the programme. Men’s 4x100 team shaped by Beppe Grillo, Graham Pellegrini, Gaetano Di Franco and Luke Bezzina, broke aged national record by inches in the front of very keen spectators. Pellegrini sprinted well at the opposite straight then gave baton to the ban-returner Di Franco who turn curve well then final straight to be consumed furious by Luke Bezzina. Their 40.59 finish gave them an honour holding with just second relay victory over the eighteen years - since previous record holder Maltese quartet got the title in Andorra 2005 by 40.63.

WINDY PATRIZIA

Luxembourg’s rising female sprinter Patrizia Van der Weken wins 100 metres gold as expected in Micallef St. John Stadium. The 23-year-old clocked 11.33 games record in the heats, then lowered her mark to wind-assisted 11.11 (+2.7) in the final and secured first GSSE gold after a silver and three bronze at the event since 2015. She also became only second Luxembourgish female 100m winner in this territory.

Meanwhile men’s 100 metres final sees first-time Sammarinese titlist in history. Eugene 2022 contestant Francesco Sansovini has brilliant run in the final to clock 10.41 national record for breaking Cyprus’ seven-games win streak in the short sprint. Since the beginning in 1985, Sansovini became first athlete to win 100 metres gold from San Marino and brought just ninth athletics gold in overall to the country. The young sprint prospect won 200m bronze and relay silver, too.

Likely most historic achievement in Malta 2023 was occurred in men’s pole vault contest. Six-time consecutive GSSE winner

FAILED FOR SEVENTH

Cypriot Nikandros Stylianou has been come to Malta for taking it seventh time, but he felt short to achieve. Stylianou cleared 5.20 at second try just like as fellow Cypriot Christos Tamanis and Monaco’s Jean Woloch did. In the next attempt for 5.25, Stylianou failed to clear as team-mate Tamanis bypassed to same height. Woloch has stucked in the mind games between two Cypriots with first attempt failed in 5.25 metres, but he decided to go next. Woloch cleared 5.30 in the first try while Tamanis all failed at 5.35, which guaranteed Monegasque athlete’s very first win. The victory put his name to record books as first GSSE pole vault champion outside of Cypriots in men’s competition since it inauguration in 1993.

Monaco wins three titles in Marsa but in terms of the marks, pole vault was not a brightest one comparing with Teo Andant’s 400 metres effort. As a European Championships medallist with France vest, Andant gets massive 45.81 win over 400m to massive progress over games and national record simultaneously.