Swimmer becomes first Gibraltarian Olympic medallist at Special Olympics

GIBRALTAR won its first-ever Olympic medal on Monday when swimmer Francis Mauro won the bronze in the 50-metre breaststroke.

Mauro represented Gibraltar at the 2015 Special Olympics in Los Angeles.

As a dependent state, Gibraltar is not permitted to field its own competitors in the Summer or Winter Olympic Games, though it is an independent competitor in the Special Olympics.

The first Gibraltarian to qualify for the Summer Olympics was Georgina Cassar, a rhythmic gymnast who competed for Team Great Britain in the 2012 Olympic Games.

In 1976, Gibraltar-born rower Peter Dignan won a bronze medal for the New Zealand side.