Boy, 11, becomes youngest to swim from Malta to Gozo and back [Video]

An 11-year-old boy has become the youngest person to swim from Malta to Gozo – and back.

Zac Bugeja completed the 11-kilometre challenge on Saturday, starting at Marfa jetty in Ċirkewwa and returning four hours and 23 minutes later.

The youngster had promised himself on his 11th birthday in April that he would swim 11km to celebrate.

Joined by fellow swimmer Sabrina Pace, 18, they started off at 6.30am and completed the challenge in time for lunch.

Zac said: “I’m super happy with the outcome of the swim. As my parents always told me, when you put in the hard work, the results will come.”

Mid-way through the swim, he began to feel shoulder pain and feared he would not be able to reach his goal, despite two months of intense training.

One of his coaches, Mark Buttigieg, told him that his shoulders were hurting because he was swimming against …