Gibraltar has named a 22-strong team for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games and is set to be represented in seven sports.
Sprinters Jerai Torres and Jessy Franco are two of the three athletes that will compete in athletics along with middle-distance runner Harvey Dixon.
Also set to participate are cyclists Derek Barbara, Joey Sheriff and Julian Bellido, rhythmic gymnast Emma Bosio, clay shooter Kevin Cowles and pistol shooters Jonathan Patron and Daniel Payas.
Completing Gibraltar’s team are rifle shooters Albert Buhagiar, Wayne Piri and Mairead Sheriff, squash player Christian Navas, swimmers James Sanderson, Matt Savitz, Christina Linares, Jordan Gonzalez and Colin Bensadon and triathletes Chris Walker, Andrew Gordon and Robert Matto.
“Congratulations to all 22 athletes selected and I’m delighted that we have seven sports represented at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games,” Harry Murphy, President of the Gibraltar Commonwealth Games Association, said.
“I would like to thank our Technical Standards Committee, Chris Walker, Wayne Piri and Brian Buckley for all their hard work over the last 24 months in working with the sports validating the sport criteria and minimum consideration standards for participation.
“I would also like to thank all of the athletes, both those who made the team and those who didn’t, for the incredible effort, teamwork and sportsmanlike way that you conducted yourselves throughout the process.”
Torres, who will compete in the 200 metres and 400m events, told the Gibraltar Olive Press: “Representing Gibraltar has always been an honour for me, from the first time seven years ago up until now.
“My hopes and aims are the same as every year, to improve my times and break national records.
“Last season was my best one yet and so far this season I’ve started on the same line so hopefully I’ll be in peak condition for the Gold Coast.”
Gibraltar first competed at the Commonwealth Games in 1958, when they were known as the British Empire and Commonwealth Games, but they are yet to win a medal in 15 attempts.
A total of 25 Gibraltarian athletes were sent to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, but the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) introduced a cap on future participation to curb “gigantism” in the quadrennial event.
The CGF has set maximum participation quotas on all Commonwealth Games Associations for Gold Coast 2018, which is due to take place from April 4 to 15, with a new quota-based system to apply for Birmingham 2022 and beyond.
The Gold Coast 2018 Queen’s Baton visited Gibraltar in September as part of its European leg.