The Maltese National Weightlifting Team has wrapped up its time at the prestigious IWF World Senior Weightlifting Championships in Bahrain over the past week, with some impressive performances that brought the local athletes’ talent and determination to the world stage.

One of Malta’s representatives was Kim Camilleri Lagana, who competed in the 55kg category. She successfully completed Snatch lifts at 64kg, 68kg, and 70kg, followed by Clean & Jerk lifts of 86kg and 90kg. Her excellent efforts secured her a 5th place finish in the highly competitive 55C group, outperforming athletes from many countries – particularly impressive as she was the youngest competitor there!

Next up for Malta was Rylee Borg, the country’s only male representative in the 81kg category. He showed remarkable focus and determination, achieving a perfect 6-for-6 performance. He completed Snatch lifts of 114kg, 118kg, and 121kg, along with Clean & Jerk lifts of 145kg, 150kg, and 153kg, setting five national records in the process. His total of 274kg earned him a 7th place finish in the 81C group. Despite being the youngest in his category, Rylee’s performance proved that age is no obstacle to reaching the highest levels of competition.

The final athlete for Malta was experienced lifter Tenishia Thornton, who recently claimed the European Junior title. Competing in the 64D category while recovering from bronchitis, Tenishia still managed to deliver a solid performance. She started with Snatch lifts of 78kg and 82kg on her second attempt. In the Clean & Jerk, she successfully lifted 95kg and 100kg. Although not at her peak due to her illness, Thornton secured a strong 4th place finish in her group, outshining competitors from several countries. As one of the youngest in her category, she showed why she remains Malta's top weightlifting talent.

With the youngest team at the World Championships, Malta’s athletes not only made their country proud, but also set the stage for future generations. The Malta Weightlifting Association celebrated their efforts, recognising the bright future of the sport in Malta.

Well done to Kim, Rylee and Tenishia!