Francesca and Martina Xuereb of Malta (© c)
Maltese athletes are not used to too much attention when they compete on the international stage, but the duo due to represent their country at the 5th IAAF World Youth Championships this week in Ostrava can expect their fair share of publicity.
For Francesca and Martina Xuereb, the two athletes chosen by the MAAA to make the trip to Ostrava, are identical twins who both run the 400m.
Spotted at the age of eight by Mark Farrugia, one of the foremost Maltese coaches, they’ve spent the past eight years training and working hard to improve themselves. With excellent results: at the recent Games for the Small States of Europe they won four medals despite competing against athletes much older then them. The two sisters even achieved the remarkable feat of finishing second and third in the 400m.
Those Games were the highlight of the Maltese athletics season, yet the possibility of competing at a world stage is something that the twins aren’t taking lightly.
“At the beginning of the year we were focusing on the GSSEs because we had to obtain the MQS to qualify but this doesn’t mean that we didn’t plan for the World Youths” says Francesca whilst Martina adds that “we trained hard for the GSSE and have continued building on that afterwards.”
“As with every other competition we have been doing our best to prepare physically as well as mentally and I feel ready for them. We’re very excited to get there and be able to do our bit for Maltese athletics.”
“This will be the first time that I will be taking part in a world competition and there’s no doubt that the level is very high but I don’t intend to let this distract me from doing my best to nail a personal best. More than anything, these championships will be a huge learning experience for me so there’s no way that I was going to arrive here without the due preparation.”
“The fact that we’ve been to two international events in the form of the GSSE and the European Cup 2nd Division is an advantage,” continues Francesca. “Our preparations went well even though it was very tough as we had to sit for a number of exams. Overall I feel ready for them.”
“Like any other international competition, this is an experience that teaches you a lot of new things. The level is very high but there is always that little element of luck involved. Personally, I always aim for a personal best that would mean a national record. Provided my sister doesn’t beat me, that is!”
Paul Grech for the IAAF
