Dubai: UAE-based Olympic swimming debutants Velimir Stjepanovic and Andrew Chetcuti have been branded inspirations by former tutors, following their performances at London 2012.
Stjepanovic, 18, representing Serbia, finished sixth in the 200-metre butterfly final clocking 1:55.07 on Tuesday, after winning his heat with a personal best and national record of 1:54.99 and progressing from the semi-final on Monday with 1:55.13.
He also helped Serbia to another national record in the 4x100-metre freestyle relay on Sunday, recording a team best of 3:18.79, three seconds off a slot in the final. Stjepanovic was out in 23.27 for a total 49.13 — his fastest ever relay split.
Meanwhile Andrew Chetcuti, 19, representing Malta, a former head boy at Dubai College, broke his personal best and set a new Maltese record of 51.67 in the 100-metre freestyle heats on Tuesday.
Fiona Cottam, principal of Jumeirah College, where Velimir studied, said: “It’s just an incredible achievement to appear in an Olympics let alone make a final and finish within the top eight in the world.
“The funny thing is we all believed deep down he would make the final following his performances in the 2011 European Juniors and the 2010 Youth Olympics. He won two gold medals and a bronze and silver respectively there, albeit in the 100-metre freestyle and butterfly.”
Cottam added: “He was already an inspiration to all our young people — addressing assemblies before he left for London — but now we expect him to return to an even greater reception from staff and students.”
Mohammad Fadi of Al Wasl Swimming Club, where Chetcuti used facilities to train, said: “We are all very happy for Andrew and hope his performance spurs more people to take up swimming. We hope he returns to visit and inspire our students.”
