Conducts an in-depth interview with highly promising triathlete

Malcolm, you have just finished the 5th form with success and your O Level results have just come out! I was present at the last School Prize Day and apart from the endless list of first and second places in almost all subjects, you were even awarded The Minister’s choice: Student of the Year. Such results do not come by default but a mix of many things namely giving the right priorities, good memory, revision, paying thorough attention in class, love for studying etc. What lies beneath such remarkable results and what are your feelings during and post an exam? Your marks are close to full marks so it goes without saying that you are a perfectionist. How much do you give importance to the minimal details both at school and at triathlon races? Your future seems very bright. What are your intentions and dreams for the future?

I think that you can say that I love to learn and I take an interest in many of the subjects that I am taught. This drives me to pay attention in class in particular when a new concept is explained. As a character, contrary to what others might think, I do procrastinate. I am a very relaxed, laid back person by nature. However, on the other hand I have never missed an assignment and, when I do finally sit down to carry out a task, I do make sure that it is done very well. I think my results come from taking a real interest in what goes around me, never missing up any work and really applying myself in whatever I have to do.

As exams are approaching I do sometimes go in panic mode, which makes me sit down and work hard. Even then I do tend to study in fits and starts but the time that I really dedicate to studying, I really concentrate hard. I am a very logical person and I have a knack for subjects like Maths and Physics. However, I do have to revise frequently subjects that require more memory work.

Detail is so very important when you have to give in an important assignment, or are preparing for examinations. It is attention to detail that makes you go up a higher notch and makes your work achieve higher value. The same goes for my sport. As triathlon has three sports in one, you do have to pay great attention to what you are doing well and to what you can improve. Detail as in the strokes in swimming, the way you run, your equipment preparation before a race or how you handle the transitions in a race, can mean a world of difference on how you perform in a race.

Although I am an athlete I do give academics a lot of weight in my life. Through my school, the National Sports School, I have been able to participate in the 9th Edition of the Malta Mathematics Olympiad, managing to achieve Third Place Overall in the Individual Competition. I have also participated, as a team together with other students of my school, in the Malta Junior Science Olympiad 2018, which we have won as a school. That was really a proud