Malta is making history at this year’s World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, with standout performances in artistic swimming from both solo and duet athletes.On Day 1, Zea Montfort represented Malta in the Women’s Solo Technical event, finishing with a strong 206.2883 points. This marks a five-point improvement from the European Junior Championships held just last month, and a major milestone in her debut senior season, which began with a score of 176.9416. Over the course of several competitions, Zea improved by 30 full points.Ana Culic and Thea Grima Buttigieg took to the world stage in the Women’s Duet Technical event. This was the first time two senior Maltese athletes competed together at this level, making it a historic moment for local sport.The duo scored 214.5317 points, Malta’s highest ever result in a Duet Technical routine. They improved by 15 points since the start of the season and climbed five places from last year’s World Championships to finish in 30th place.Zea Montfort also competed in the Women’s Solo Free event, closing off her season with a clean, basemark-free routine and a personal best score of 180.4982. She finished 20th overall, marking a 40-point improvement since her performance in Paris earlier this year.This season marks a series of firsts for Zea, including her debut in the senior category, two World Cup appearances, a double silver at the GSSE, and now her first World Aquatics Championships.Photo Credit: Yong Teck Lim and Hannah Preca Trapani•