Team Malta delivered an impressive showing at the IWF World Youth and Junior Championships held in Lima, Peru, where three athletes demonstrated skill, determination, and national pride on the global stage.
Kim Camilleri Lagana was the first to represent Malta, competing in the 55kg Category Group B. She opened strongly with a successful Snatch of 71kg. Although she had planned to attempt 73kg, a persistent glute injury forced her to withdraw from the Snatch segment. In the Clean & Jerk, Kim initially missed her 90kg opener but rallied to complete 91kg on her second attempt. She was unable to continue after a final lift attempt at 95kg due to ongoing discomfort. Despite the setbacks, Kim’s grit earned her 6th place in her group and secured her a top-10 world ranking in her category.
Next up was Tenishia Thornton, competing in the fiercely contested 64kg category, which featured over 40 elite athletes. Tenishia opened the Snatch with a solid 89kg but narrowly missed her next two attempts at 91kg. In the Clean & Jerk, she recovered from an initial miss at 109kg to complete the lift on her second try. Although her final attempt at 111kg fell short, her overall performance earned her 3rd place in Group B and a spot among the top 10 in the world.
Rounding off Team Malta’s campaign was Rylee Borg in the 89kg category. After a missed opening Snatch attempt at 122kg, Rylee rebounded with a successful second lift at the same weight and closed the segment with a strong 126kg lift. In the Clean & Jerk, he missed his first attempt at 155kg but came back powerfully on his second lift. Rising to the occasion, Rylee executed a remarkable 160kg lift—surpassing the national record by 4kg and finishing 7th in his group. His result also outperformed all competitors in Group C and most in Group B.
This successful participation was made possible through the support of the International Weightlifting Federation, the Malta Olympic Committee, and SportMalta.
Sports Editor
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