Maja Theuma

Started: She took up Para swimming in 2015. (Athlete, 12 Sep 2019) Reason: "My passion for swimming started at a very young age when I used to go snorkeling with my father. At 15, my previous coach asked me to join the Para swimming team and it was then that I started to love practising swimming as a sport." (Facebook page, 09 Feb 2020) Awards: She and athletics competitor Antonio Flores were flag bearers for Malta at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (medias.paris2024.org, 28 Aug 2024) Additional Info: BREAK AND RETURN She took a two-year break from Para swimming between 2017 and 2019 in order to focus on her studies. She returned to the sport in February 2019. "There were times when I considered taking a gap year [from her studies] to focus on my training, but thanks to the support of my family, coaches, and friends, I decided to do both." (Facebook page, 09 Feb 2020; Athlete, 12 Sep 2019) FURTHER EDUCATION In 2023 she graduated with a master's degree in strategic management and digital marketing from the University of Malta. (LinkedIn profile, 01 May 2024) OTHER ACTIVITIES In January 2022 she was elected as a member of the Para Athletes' Representative at the Malta Paralympic Committee between 2022 and 2024. (Facebook profile, 08 Jan 2022)