Two of Malta’s leading swimmers, Amy Micallef and Raoul Stafrace, travelled to France last weekend to compete in the 34th Meeting National du Chamalieres-Montferrand.

This is a popular swimming meet that attracts many French swimmers of varying standards up to national level.

Micallef and Stafrace were invited as guests by the meet organisers. The Maltese duo, currently training under the guidance of Andy Colbourn, the new director of coaching at Neptunes WPSC, in the club’s programme for the development squad, took part in a total of five events.

Micallef competed in the 50, 100 and 200 metres breastroke, while Stafrace went head-to-head with the French in the blue ribbon 50 and 100 metres freestyle events.

Neptunes said in a statement that both swimmers managed to win a medal in every event, despite having to adapt to the different set-up with regards to altitude and the slow pool.

Micallef took bronze in the 50m breast, silver in the 100m and finished with a dominanting performance in the 200, claiming a well-deserved gold.

Stafrace was no less impressive, claiming bronze in the 50 free and silver in the 100 after an exciting battle with one of the French sprinters.

This was the first of two working meets for the Neptunes swimmers as they are training hard in preparation for the ASA Easter Meet, between March 31 and April 2, and an Olympic qualifying event in Eindhoven, to be held next month.

Both Micallef and Stafrace will be flying to Milan next week to take part in sixth Trofeo Città di Milano from March 18-19.