Wilfred Pirotta
Hall of Famer 2004
Underwater Activities
I love sports. I have been practicing sports since I was 11/12 years old. I used to take part in netball, football and athletics at school. I know I was always appreciated for my sporting spirit by my teachers and classmates. I was also involved in bodybuilding and boxing but was also very keen on swimming, snorkelling and underwater fishing.
It was Underwater fishing that was always my favourite sport and something I excelled in, in fact giving me the opportunity to compete in numerous competitions both locally and abroad. I was lucky enough to be appreciated for my talent and was an automatic choice to represent Malta at five world underwater fishing championships: in 1958, Portugal, in 1959, Malta, in 1960, Palermo, Sicily, in 1961 in Spain and in 1963 in Brazil.
Taking part in such high level competitions gave me the opportunity to achieve outstanding results for myself and for Malta. I can still recall the heartfelt appreciation of the Maltese public which culminated in my being voted sportsman of the year in 1960 by readers of the “Sporting Star”.
Participation in this sport gave me the opportunity to meet with prominent people in this sport like Sig. Cressi (the owner of well known diving equipment supplies) and Com. Jacques Yves Cousteau the great diving explorer (and inventor of diving equipment), besides meeting other world renowned underwater diving champions, which I still remember and appreciate today.
When the Malta Sub Aqua Club was founded in 1955 and is now known as the Atlam Sub Aqua Club, I was one of the first members and still a member today. The fact that I am an honorary member of the club, demonstrates the members’ respect and appreciation for my past achievements.
In 1961 as a member of the Malta Scooter club we attempted to break the world endurance record of seven days of continued driving on the same bike set by the UK Huddersfield Lambretta Club. The Malta scooter club succeeded in breaking this record by driving non stop day and night for 10 days. However due to the absence of official marshals the record was not officially recognised.
The attempt nonetheless received the support and appreciation of the Maltese media and general public.
This varied and rich career in sports which has lasted a lifetime climaxed in the year of 2004 when to my greatest satisfaction I was inducted by the Malta Olympic Committee to the Malta Sports Hall of Fame among other great Maltese sportsmen in appreciation and recognition for my achievements and contribution to Sports in Malta.
This is the most honourable fulfilling recognition bringing my sporting career to a satisfying conclusion which can be of inspiration and appreciated by the future generation.