The COOP Services National Long Course Championships 2025/26 took place at the SportMalta Cottonera Sport Complex, Cospicua from Thursday 26 June to Sunday 29 June 2026, bringing together 373 athletes representing 17 clubs across four days of competitive long course swimming. The event served as one of the principal fixtures on the national aquatics calendar, attracting participants from across Malta as well as a number of international entries from Turkey and France. Hon. Minister for Education and Sport Byron Camilleri attended the championships, following the ongoing competition, alongside the President of the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta, Karl Izzo, and the Chief Executive Officer of SportMalta, Mark Cutajar.
A total of 373 athletes â 206 men and 167 women â generated 1,789 individual entries and 81 relay entries across the four days. The championships drew clubs of varying sizes, from large established squads to smaller visiting contingents, with competition spanning all age groups from the youngest categories through to senior open events.
Top Three Clubs
Neptunes WPSC claimed the top spot on the medal table with an emphatic 42 gold, 42 silver, and 24 bronze medals, demonstrating considerable depth across both their male and female squads. Sliema ASC finished second with 32 gold, 9 silver, and 14 bronze medals, while Southwaves Swimming Club rounded out the top three with 11 gold, 9 silver, and 7 bronze medals.
Records Broken
Two age group records fell during the championships. Martina Galea of Aquahub set a new Group C Womenâs Age Group Record in the 50m Butterfly, clocking 29.60 to claim gold in that event. Madeleine Cassar of Neptunes WPSC broke the Group D Womenâs Age Group Record in the 200m Butterfly, finishing in 2:25.59 in what was an impressive individual championship across multiple events.
International Participation
The championships also welcomed international representation, with Fenerbahçe Spor KulÞbÞ from Turkey contributing nine athletes across 34 individual events, alongside entries from Fmv Isik Spor KulÞbÞ, MUC Natation, and individual representatives from Turkey. This international presence added further competitive depth to the proceedings and provided Maltese athletes with the opportunity to race against swimmers from beyond the national circuit.
Inclusive Sport at the Championships
Special Olympics Maltaâs participation was a notable feature of the championships. Fourteen athletes â eight men and six women â competed in 24 individual events and two relay entries, reflecting the ongoing integration of Special Olympics athletes into mainstream competitive swimming at national level.
A Strong Close to the Season
With two age group records broken, a medal table topped convincingly by Neptunes WPSC, and a combined total of 1,870 individual and relay entries across 17 clubs, the COOP Services National Long Course Championships 2025/26 represented a fitting and well-attended conclusion to the long course season.
