Alfred Grixti (born 21 April 1943) is a Maltese former

swimmer Swimming is an individual or team racing sport that requires the use of one's entire body to move through water. The sport takes place in pools or open water (e.g., in a sea or lake). Competitive swimming is one of the most popular Olympic ...

. He competed in the men's 100 metre freestyle at the

1960 Summer Olympics The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpici estivi del 1960), officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad ( it, Giochi della XVII Olimpiade) and commonly known as Rome 1960 ( it, Roma 1960), were an international multi-sport event held ...

, where he was eliminated after finishing last in his heat. During his swimming career Grixti was National champion in four different events over a number of years and the highlight was competing at the

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

. Grixti's other passion was water polo, and was classed as the undisputed best ever water polo player ever for his country, his career spanned over 20 years and won every major honour possible in his country, he made his division one debut when he was just 13 years old, he was a prolific goal scorer and an all rounder who read the game better than anyone, he represented his country at the

1963 Mediterranean Games The 1963 Mediterranean Games, officially known as the IV Mediterranean Games, and commonly known as Naples 1963, were the 4th Mediterranean Games. The Games were held in Naples, Italy over 8 days, from 21 to 29 September 1963, where 1,057 athlete ...

held in

Naples Naples (; it, Napoli ; nap, Napule ), from grc, Νεάπολις, Neápolis, lit=new city. is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 909,048 within the city's adminis ...

, and then 12 years later he captained his country at the

1975 Mediterranean Games The 1975 Mediterranean Games, officially known as the VII Mediterranean Games, and commonly known as Algiers 1975, were the 7th Mediterranean Games. The Games were held in Algiers, Algeria, from 23 August to 6 September 1975, where 2,444 athletes ...

held in

Algiers Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques ...

Algeria ) , image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Algiers , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , relig ...

. After quitting as a player he carried on coaching for several years for Birzebbuga A.S.C. and Birzebbuga A.S.C. In 1965 and 1972 Grixti was voted Sportsman of the Year in Malta, and in 2005, he was inducted in to the Hall of Fame of the Malta Olympic Committee. Grixti is married to Pauline, who was also a water polo player and they had four children.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Grixti, Alfred 1943 births Living people Maltese male swimmers Olympic swimmers for Malta Swimmers at the 1960 Summer Olympics Place of birth missing (living people) Maltese male water polo players Competitors at the 1963 Mediterranean Games Competitors at the 1975 Mediterranean Games Mediterranean Games competitors for Malta