Charles Flask

Charles (Karlu) Flask was a water polo player of pre-World War II St Julian's ASC. He was the first Maltese swimmer and water polo player who forced the resignation of the ASA Council in 1936 and of the ASA president in 1937.
Charles Flask, the son of Alfred (the National and St. George's FC goalkeeper of the pre-World War I era) and Rafela née Busuttil was born in Bormla on July 11, 1907. Though still a child, he often went to help his father, who worked as a boatman at the Grand Harbour, Malta. During his free time, he would go to Kalkara, Rinella or Bormla wharf to swim with his friends, who soon noted how keen he was in swimming. At 20 he tried unsuccessfully to set up a water polo team at Marsaskala and Bormla.
Two of St Julian's ASC committee members, Grixti and Vella Agius, contacted him and asked him to join St Julian's ASC. Though Charles was coming from "the other side" of Malta, the two were aware of his lethal left-handed strike and how strong he was in swimming. With St Julian's ASC he improved his swimming skills so that in 1932 many were of the opinion that he was one of the finest Maltese water polo players and swimmers. He successfully played for Pick Malta and St Julian's ASC both locally and abroad. At the same time he showed his skills as a swimmer, being second to none for various year in the 1930s. Suffice it to say that he was the first Maltese to swim the 100 yards freestyle in 57 seconds (as timed by Captain Curmi, KOMR).
He is remembered more for what in the history of water polo is referred to as 'The Charles Flask incident'. In 1936, Malta was preparing to take part in the Berlin Olympic Games. As was expected, Charles was called to join the national water polo team but, before the Malta party was formally announced, Flask was dropped from the side. St Julian's ASC, with players like Flask in its ranks, won 40 out of 42 games. For the rest of his life he never forgot the harm done to him and, though he continued to play for several years, he always regretted up to his death on May 29, 1978, not being given the possibility to play for the Malta side in the 1936 Olympic Games.
Flask also practised football, rowing, boxing, cycling and billiard but he was primarily a swimmer and one of the best Maltese water polo players. Charles Flask was married to late Maria Concetta née Cilia (widow of Tony Delia) and had five sons and two daughters.

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