Swimmer Matthew Zammit is in Malta to take part in this weekend’s National Championships at Tal-Qroqq.

The meeting will serve the 19-year-old as preparation for next month’s World University Games in South Korea.

Now living and training in the UK, Zammit studies at Plymouth University and hopes to graduate as a physiotherapist, emulating his father Alan.

“Leaving Malta was tough at every level, not to mention the sacrifices made by my family,” Zammit said.

“At university, I have access to a detailed coaching regime and train regularly with champions including Ruta Meilutyte (the 2012 Olympic gold medallist in 100m breaststroke) and Ben Proud (holder of two British records and Commonwealth champion in 50m butterfly and 50m freestyle events).

“In fact, I used to share a flat with Ben and learned a lot from him. He is a very focused individual who conducts a seemingly perfect ‘athlete lifestyle’ and spends a lot of time visualising his races, something I hadn’t really understood before talking to him.”

Zammit receives a lot of support from his family as he aims for his sporting and academic goals. However, the gritty determination to undertake the unrelenting, daily training regime is his alone and his focus is palpable.

“My day starts at 5am and I train three to four hours a day, five days a week, doing nine pool sessions in total,” he said.

To the uninitiated, that’s powering down a 50m pool for anything between 3,000 and 6,000 metres.

“Then there’s physiotherapy, massage and strength training and, obviously, I have to study,” he added.

“I return home at around 7.30pm, grab something to eat and maybe watch some TV to relax. It’s tough, very structured and sometimes monotonous, but that’s the lifestyle.

“I catch up with friends at weekends after training and, not surprisingly, some of them think I’m nuts, but they’re always supportive which I value.

“I’ve wanted to do well and represent Malta since I was 12 and nothing’s changed – it’s an honour to represent your country.”

Coaching ambitions

Zammit’s prolific skill in the pool is obvious, but his performance out of the water is equally impressive.

Now swimming for Sirens ASC, he will help coach the young squad after the National Championships and is set to travel with the swimmers to Slovenia in September for the club’s overseas training camp.

“Ultimately, I’d like to return to Malta as a physiotherapist but also as a coach,” Zammit said.

Rather modestly, Zammit said he has a lot to give back to a new generation of swimmers in Malta, whether it’s about technique, strategy or mental focus before a race.

“I’d love to do it,” he said, “but I’ve got a few other things to do first.”