At just 17, Zea Montfort is already one of the most promising names in Maltese artistic swimming. Coming from a country where the sport is still in its infancy, she has quickly established herself as one of its leading international representatives.

Montfort began artistic swimming at seven with the Sirens ASC club. A pivotal moment came in 2021, when Malta hosted the European Junior Championships. Too young to compete, she watched from the pool deck, and that moment lit a fire that would eventually carry her across the Mediterranean. 

In September 2023, she took a decisive step in her development, moving to Barcelona to join the renowned Club Natacio Kallipolis. The Catalan club is synonymous with excellence, having produced icons such as Gemma Mengual and Andrea Fuentes, as well as reigning World Champions Iris Tio and Dennis Gonzalez.

The transition required rapid adaptation, from leaving her family behind to adjusting to a new, high-intensity training environment. But she thrived, and the rewards soon followed.

Having first appeared on the major international stage at the 2021 European Youth Championships, Montfort moved into the senior ranks in 2025 with starts at the Paris World Cup and her first senior European and World Championships. The season was highlighted by two silver medals in solo at the Games of the Small States of Europe, as well as a third appearance at the European Junior Championships.

Balancing online studies with elite sport, distance from home with a life she loves in Barcelona, Montfort wouldn’t trade anything for the world as she looks ahead to 2026. 

 

Inside Synchro: Artistic swimming is a fairly young sport in Malta. How did you get into it?

Zea Montfort: I was introduced to the sport when I was around six years old. I watched Japanese Olympian Saho Harada, who brought synchronized swimming to Malta in 2010, give her training at the pool. I remember her counting, beating the spoon against the ladder (laughs). I wanted to try so the next year, I joined recreational classes.

In 2018, I had my first club solo competition in Latvia, where I placed second. I was 10 years old and so nervous because I was competing against Russian and Belarusian athletes. It was only me and my coach at this competition. I was super scared, but I remember she told me to believe in myself, to go and just enjoy. 

And ever since then I’ve always thought of this. Every time I compete, I try to do my best and to show everything I’ve trained for. That same year, I joined the National Sports School in Malta, which allowed me to combine school and training more easily. 

IS: Now a few years later, you’re in your third season at C.N. Kallipolis in Barcelona. How did this opportunity come about?

ZM: It had always been my dream to train abroad since I started synchro, but I was too young for a long time. Then, it quickly felt like a necessity. I wanted to challenge myself, experience something new, and get out of my comfort zone. Also, I really wanted to train in a team, because I had only been doing solo and duet my whole life.

Malta hosted the European Junior Championships in 2021. We had a national team compete there, but I was 13 and too young to participate. So instead I volunteered in the event, and it is one of my fondest memories. I watched everything, met a lot of athletes, and I was very inspired by them.

We started reaching out, and one fine day, we received an acceptance from Kallipolis that I was able to join their pre-season camp. It felt like winning the lottery. Someone opened the doors for me and gave me the opportunity to try. 

So, I went to Barcelona for a week for a trial, that was in September 2023. Then it turned into a couple of months, and now it’s my third year (laughs). It feels like home. I was able to go and train through the funding of the Malta Sports Scholarship Scheme. I am very honored because I’m the first artistic swimmer who has been rewarded such a scholarship.

IS: How has adapting to a new life in Spain been?

ZM: I was only 15 when I moved to Barcelona. It was quite challenging because I was very young and new to the city, to the country, to the language. I was living in the Blume residence, which is a sports high-performance center for younger athletes. This helped me a lot and gave me the opportunity to meet and share experiences with other athletes from different sports. 

The following year, I stayed with a host family from Kallipolis, the family of Dennis [Gonzalez Boneu]. They are very special to me, I can never thank them enough for welcoming me. They really made me feel at home, and like I was also part of their family.

And now, my third year, I’m sharing an apartment with other girls. So I have to learn how to cook, do the shopping, wash my clothes… The big girl stuff (laughs)!

I’ve definitely matured a lot since I first came. I am super happy here, and I feel like I’ve made my place in Spain. Obviously I miss my family in Malta but they come to visit me, and they are happy that I’m happy. I’m living my dream; it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. 

IS: How has your experience in training been like at Kallipolis?

ZM: When I first arrived, it was not easy because of the language barrier. I didn’t know Spanish or Catalan very well. So, the coaches had to explain things to me in English, but of course that took time. There were times I simply had to figure it out on my own, since there wasn’t enough time for them to translate every single thing during training.

It was also not very easy to fit in the dynamic of the team. It was very new to me, but it was something I really wished for since I was given this opportunity. So, I wanted to prove that I could do it for the team, for the coaches, and obviously for myself as well. 

I worked really hard to integrate the team and perform at a high level for the club. There are girls who have been on the Spanish national team, so it was very challenging to live up to their expectations and what they’ve been used to in training for many years. I absolutely love the team event now. Being with eight other people, cheering each other up, supporting each other, going through everything together… It’s an incredible feeling.

I am so happy and grateful for this experience. The training method, how everything is structured, and the challenges they give us in training are just many things I love. Of course, at first, it was really out of my comfort zone, and much more demanding from what I was used to, but I really love it, even on the harder days. And now, my Spanish has gotten better too (laughs)! 

I must say, one of the other best parts from this experience is that I had the opportunity to train and be supported by Ms. [Anna] Tarrés for my solos. She taught me how to push myself more, to be more determined, to want something even more, and to embrace all the challenges. 

IS: Tell me more about working with Anna Tarrés.

ZM: Working with her is absolutely a great pleasure. When you train with her, you feel like you have to be 10 times better than yourself. You need to give your maximum in everything you’re doing.

She loves the sport and when she’s coaching, it shows. So, when I’m training with her, it also gives me more passion, more creativity and more love. Training with her makes me feel like I need to be the best version of myself… That I can be the best version of myself. 

She’s taught me a lot about transitions too. Usually, we build something up from there, from one transition to another. It’s such an interesting, creative process; it’s absolutely amazing working with her. 

IS: You are just coming off one of your most successful seasons so far. How was 2025 from your point of view?

ZM: 2025 was my first time at the senior level. My first competition was the Paris World Cup, and my coach in Spain, Ms. Tarrés, helped me prepare for it. I was very nervous, but she trusted me and told me that I could do it. I got basemarks, but it was my first competition of the season, so I just wanted to see what I could do to start.

In May, there were the Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE), which was a very important competition for Malta in general. I placed second in both technical and free solos, which was incredible. Then I had the European Junior Championships, where I made the finals in both solo events.

In July, I had my first World Championships experience in Singapore. I was super, super proud of myself, grateful for the opportunity, and very excited to compete against the best athletes in the world.

I didn’t really know what to expect there. I just wanted to give it my all and make all the training, all the hard work, all the tears of frustration left in the pool count. My main goal was to have no basemarks and to enjoy what I’m doing when I’m swimming. And I did that!

And throughout that whole year, I was also competing in the Catalan and the Spanish Championships (laughs)! It was a very busy year, but I loved it so much because I got to meet new athletes and make new friends around the world. 

IS: How did it feel standing on the podium at the GSSE?

ZM: I was super proud of myself. My main goal was to compete against [Jasmine Verbena], the soloist from San Marino. She’s a very strong swimmer so I wanted to get close to her as much as possible. One of my other goals was also to have no basemarks, which I managed. I was a bit nervous, as training [in Andorra] was very tough because of the altitude. It was unlike anything I’ve experienced. I am proud to have pushed myself even harder and given my best in the pool.

IS: What are some of your goals for 2026?

ZM: My goals for this season are to improve my ranking as a soloist, and focus on my artistic impression. And to continue to grow as an athlete, in a way that shows. It is also my last year as a junior so I really want to give my all for the junior competitions this year. I don’t know my full schedule yet, but I know there will be the European Junior Championships in Germany. I will also participate in the senior European Championships in Paris.

 

IS: Do you have anything to say to other swimmers who maybe, like you, are dreaming of training abroad?

ZM: Embrace everything. If you have an opportunity, just take it. If the door is open, go for it. If this is your dream and passion, keep pursuing it and don’t let anyone convince you that you’re not good enough, or that it will be too difficult. Nothing comes alone or easily, but with determination and support, you can overcome any challenge and achieve great things. 

IS: What a great message! Is there anything else you’d like to add?

ZM: I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Maltese Olympic Committee, SportMalta, and the federation (ASA) and national coaches for their support. It has allowed me to live my dream, and to be able to do something I love and am super passionate about. For that, I am very grateful.

 

ARTICLE BY CHRISTINA MARMET

Cover photo: European Aquatics

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