Malta at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Malta at the 2016 Summer Olympics
IOC code	MLT
NOC	Malta Olympic Committee
Website	www.nocmalta.org
in Rio de Janeiro
Competitors	7 in 4 sports
Flag bearer	Andrew Chetcuti[1]
Medals	Gold Silver Bronze Total 0 0 0 0
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
1928 1932 1936 1948 1952–1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016

Malta competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. This was the nation's thirteenth appearance at the Summer Olympics, since its debut in 1928, although it failed to register any athletes in five other editions (1932, 1952, 1956, 1964, and 1976).

Malta Olympic Committee selected a team of seven athletes, four men and three women, to compete in four different sports at the Games; all of them granted wild card entries without having qualified.^[1] The nation's roster in Rio de Janeiro was also a replication to those sent to Barcelona (1992), Atlanta (1996), and Sydney (2000), with an equal share of men and women. Among the sports represented by the athletes, Malta marked its Olympic debut in weightlifting.^[2]

The Maltese delegation featured three returning Olympians, including double trap shooter and medal prospect William Chetcuti, who set a historic record as the first Maltese to participate in four straight Games. Joining him were freestyle swimming sprinters Nicola Muscat and Andrew Chetcuti, who became the nation's flag bearer in the opening ceremony.^[3] Malta, however, has yet to win its first ever Olympic medal.

Athletics

Malta has received universality slots from IAAF to send two athletes (one male and one female) to the Olympics.^[4][5][6]

Key

• Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
• Q = Qualified for the next round
• q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
• NR = National record
• N/A = Round not applicable for the event
• Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round

Track & road events

Athlete	Event	Heat		Quarterfinal		Semifinal		Final
		Time	Rank	Time	Rank	Time	Rank	Time	Rank
Luke Bezzina	Men's 100 m	11.04	3	Did not advance
Charlotte Wingfield	Women's 100 m	11.86	1 Q	11.90	8	Did not advance

Shooting

Malta has received two invitations from the Tripartite Commission to send shooters competing in the men's double trap and women's pistol events, respectively, to the Olympics.^[7][8]

Athlete	Event	Qualification		Semifinal		Final
		Points	Rank	Points	Rank	Points	Rank
William Chetcuti	Men's double trap	125	17	Did not advance
Eleanor Bezzina	Women's 10 m air pistol	379	22	N/A		Did not advance
	Women's 25 m pistol	562	36	Did not advance

Swimming

Malta has received an Universality invitation from FINA to send two swimmers (one male and one female) to the Olympics.^[9][10][11]

Athlete	Event	Heat		Semifinal		Final
		Time	Rank	Time	Rank	Time	Rank
Andrew Chetcuti	Men's 100 m freestyle	51.37	51	Did not advance
Nicola Muscat	Women's 50 m freestyle	26.60	53	Did not advance

Weightlifting

Malta has received an invitation from the Tripartite Commission to send Kyle Micallef in the men's light heavyweight category (85 kg) to the Olympics, signifying the nation's Olympic debut in the sport.^[12]

Athlete	Event	Snatch		Clean & Jerk		Total	Rank
		Result	Rank	Result	Rank
Kyle Micallef	Men's −85 kg	118	DNF	—	—	—	DNF

References

1. "Swimmer Andrew Chetcuti to be Malta's flag bearer in Rio". Times of Malta. 21 July 2016.
2. Camilleri, Valhmore (20 July 2016). "Maltese athlete fails dope test". Times of Malta. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
3. Camilleri, Valhmore (22 July 2016). "MOC defends its stance in Games selection process". Times of Malta. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
4. "iaaf.org – Top Lists". IAAF. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
5. "IAAF Games of the XXX Olympiad – Rio 2016 Entry Standards" (PDF). IAAF. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
6. "Olympics: Luke Bezzina set to replace Kevin Moore after doping case". Times of Malta. 21 July 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
7. "Quota Places by Nation and Number". www.issf-sports.org/. ISSF. 30 May 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
8. "Rio 2016: Shooting sport Quota Places overview after exchanges and re-allocations". ISSF. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
9. "Swimming World Rankings". FINA. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
10. "Men's Final Entry List" (PDF). FINA. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
11. "Women's Final Entry List" (PDF). FINA. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
12. "Rio 2016 Weightlifting – List of Athletes by Bodyweight Category" (pdf). International Weightlifting Federation. Retrieved 21 July 2016.