The Maltese Olympic Committee has announced the squad of young athletes who will represent Malta at the 2025 European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF), taking place from July 20 to 26 in Skopje, North Macedonia and Osijek, Croatia.
EYOF Skopje 2025 will welcome more than 4,000 athletes and officials from 50 European nations, with participants aged between 14 and 18 competing across multiple disciplines. The event, held every two years, is Europe’s premier multi-sport festival for youth athletes, offering a stepping stone to elite international competition.
Malta will field a team across four sports, showcasing some of the island’s most promising young talent.
A combination of top athletes and top coaches
Thea Parnis Coleiro (Athletics) and Sophie St. John (Artistic Gymnastics), both of whom recently impressed at the Games of the Small States of Europe in Andorra, will lead the team with their experience.
For the first time, Malta will compete in two new sports at EYOF. Jeremy Gatt will make history as the first Maltese athlete to take part in Badminton, while Taekwondo will see its debut with Michela Scerri (-44kg) and Alycia Cassar (-63kg) flying the flag.
Athletes will be guided by a team of experienced coaches. These are Rachid Chouhal (Athletics), Natalija Berehova (Artistic Gymnastics), Matthew Haynes (Badminton), and Ditmir Vadinaj (Taekwondo).
Triathlete Kai Azzopardi will serve as Malta’s nominated Young Ambassador for EYOF 2025. He will join 21 other ambassadors in promoting the Olympic values of friendship, excellence, and respect, encouraging athletes to embrace the full EYOF experience beyond just competition.
Team Malta will be led by Chef de Mission Charlene Attard. Maltese Olympic Committee President Julian Pace Bonello will also attend the event as a guest of the North Macedonian Olympic Committee.
Thea Parnis Coleiro and Jeremy Gatt have been selected as Malta’s flag bearers for the Opening Ceremony on Sunday, 20th July.
About the EYOF
The European Youth Olympic Festival, organised under the patronage of the European Olympic Committees, is the largest multi-sport event in Europe for athletes aged 14 to 18. Held every two years, it serves as a unique opportunity for emerging athletes to compete at a high level and gain international exposure. The event also promotes cultural exchange and Olympic values in a setting that mirrors the spirit and structure of the Olympic Games.
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