Olympic Weightlifting in Malta 1975 Local History

The Malta Amateur Weightlifting Association has a rich history dating back to the post-World War II era when English servicemen introduced Olympic weightlifting to the island. The sport quickly gained popularity, but emigration caused it to fade away until Charles Mifsud, an Australian National Champion weightlifter and Maltese immigrant, returned to Malta and established the Malta Amateur Weightlifting Association in 1975. The Association was officially recognized by the International Weightlifting Federation at the Montreal Olympic Games the following year.

Under Mifsud’s leadership, the Association has successfully organized local competitions and international events, including the Mediterranean Weightlifting Cup, the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships, and the European Junior Championships. Mifsud himself served on the EWF Technical and Scientific committee and the EWF Auditors committee.

The Malta Amateur Weightlifting Association has played a significant role in promoting and developing weightlifting in Malta, and their efforts have given Maltese athletes and officials valuable international exposure.

1981 3rd European Small Nations Tournament

1983 Commonwealth Championships

1988 Commonwealth Championships

1990 12th European Small Nations Tournament

1990 Junior European Championships

1993 Friendship Games (Malta – Tunisia – Sicily)

1995 17th European Small Nations Tournament

1999 European Promotion Cup

1999 21st European Small Nations Tournament

2003 25th European Small Nations Tournament

2004 Commonwealth Championships

2005 27th European Small Nations & 1st Charles Mifsud open Tournament

2008 Friendship Games (Malta – Sicily)

2009 31st European Small Nations & 2ndCharles Mifsud open Tournament

2010 5th Mediterranean Cup

2013 35th European Small Nations & 3rd Charles Mifsud open Tournament

2015 9th Mediterranean Cup

2016 3rd European Union Cup & 1st Malta international open

2019 41st European Small Nations & 4th Charles Mifsud open Tournament

2020 2nd Malta International Open (Silver Qualification Event for Olympic Games)

2021 7th European Union Cup

2023 13th Mediterranean Cup

2025 46th European Small Nations & 3rd Malta International open

2025 11th European Union Cup & 1st Malta International Junior open

2026 4th Malta International open

Local Lifters From time to time this sport manages to yield individuals who make their mark and even fair well internationally. First weightlifter in Malta that achieved international success was Charles Azzopardi. Leonard Farrugia, Jesmond Caruana, also attained significant results internationally. Charles Callus obtained good results at the very first Small Nation Games held in San Marino in 1985. Richard Attard and Ian Grech obtained bronze medals in their respective categories at the prestigious Welsh tournament, the Silver Dragon in 1994. In the same competition Simon Brincat acquired the silver medal in his category. In 1999 Michael Micallef earned the Best Lifter award in the Small Nations Tournament held locally. During that period the best athletes showed and achieved their best results after persevering training during their yearly preparations. Mike Micallef, Kevin Cassar and Noel Coliero were awarded and received a medal for such determination. This was a proud moment for these athletes as no other Country ever achieved and won both championships since the founding of the ESNT. Kevin Cassar completed his preparations for the Commonwealth Games in Manchester 2002 after achieving the qualified standard for the games. This was another milestone for the MAWA as the association had an athlete representing it for the first time at these Games. Noel Coleiro obtained the Best Lifter award in the Small Nations Tournament held locally in 2003. In 2004 Noel Coleiro obtained bronze medal in his respective category in the Welsh Silver Dragon tournament. That same year, the female side of this sport received a boost when Rodienne Mifsud received the bronze medal in the Commonwealth Championships. Sadly, by the end of 2004 the Malta Weightlifting Federation received a blow when its founder, the President Mr. Charles Mifsud, passed away. Mr. Mifsud will always be remembered for his exceptional contribution to this sport.

Luckily the fruit of his labour still flourishes today and is still progressing and continuing to bring success to this sport.

2006 Lindsay Borg qualified to represent Malta in the Commonwealth Games in Sydney, Australia. Borg is the first women representing Malta weightlifting in these games.  She finished in 4th place overall in the 75kg Category, she lifted 74kg Snatch and 90kg Clean and Jerk, a very successful finish and a proud moment for Weightlifting in Malta. That same year, Kevin Cassar established new records in the European Small Nations Tournament held in Cyprus in the 85kg category with 120kg Snatch, 146kg Clean & Jerk.

201o Jesmond Caruana was selected Technical official for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi-India

2011 Rodmar Pulis obtained bronze medal in Juniors and Silver medal in Youths in the 77kg category in the Commonwealth Championships in Cape Town, South Africa,  he lifted 93kg Snatch and 117kg C&J. In the same year he also competed in big events like the European Youths in Poland and COJI in Palermo.

2013 a successful year for Rodmar Pulis when he qualified to represent Malta in the Mediterranean Games in Mersin, Turkey. In the 77kg category he lifted 105kg Snatch but unfortunately he could not finish the C&J. The same year another milestone for Malta weightlifting when Rodmar Pulis qualify to represent Malta in the Universiade Games in Kazan, Russia. He competed in the 77kg category and lifted 100kg Snatch and 133kg C&J.

2012 Jesmond Caruana was the first ever official selected as Technical official for the Olympic Games in London – United Kingdom

2013 Nicole Gatt obtained bronze medal in the 53 kg category youths in the Commonwealth Championships in Penang, Malaysia she lifted 50kg Snatch and 68kg C&J.

2014 Jessica Edge qualified and represented Malta in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland she competed in the 53kg category lifting 64kg Snatch and 81kg C&J, Jesmond Caruana was selected as Technical Official for these games.

The same year Nicole Gatt was Malta first athlete competing in the Youth Olympic Games held in Nanjing China. She competed in the 53kg category and lifted 48kg Snatch and 71kg C&J. Gatt was selected flag bearer in the closing ceremony of the games she was accompanied by coach Jesmond Caruana .  During the same year Gatt also competed in the European Youths held in Poland.

2015 Kieran Mifsud qualified and competed in the Youth Commonwealth Games in Apia, Samoa. He lifted in the 94kg category and placed fourth, he lifted 107kg Snatch and 133kg C&J he was selected flag bearer in the opening ceremony he was accompanied by his coach Jesmond Caruana. In the same year Mifsud ranked in 20th place in the IWF world youth rankings 94kg category. The same year both Mifsud and Rodmar Pulis competed in the European Juniors in Lithuania.

2016 Rodmar Pulis competed in the European Seniors in Forde Norway, qualification event for the Olympic Games. He saw all the preparation fade away when he injured his shoulder.  Kyle Micallef competed in the IWF grand prix in Iran and obtains tripartite invitation for the Olympics. He become the first Maltese weightlifter that participated in the Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil, He competed in the 85kg Category and was accompanied by coach Jesmond Caruana .

2017 Yasmin Zammit Stevens, 63kg, participate in the European Senior Championships in Split, Croatia. She finished with 74kg snatch, 90kg clean and jerk and ranked 15th overall. She was accompanied by Kieran Mifsud who lifted in the 105+kg category who finished with 127kg snatch and 160kg clean and jerk. Yasmin Zammit Stevens represent Malta in the Universiade Games in Taipei. She finished with 74kg snatch and 98kg clean and jerk in the 63kg category. She ranked 19th overall.

Kieran Mifsud (-105kg) and Kyle Micallef (-85kg) represent Malta in the Commonwealth Championships in Gold Coast Australia. Mifsud finished with 130kg snatch and 170kg clean and jerk. Micallef finished with 121kg snatch and 152kg clean and jerk.

Both Kieran Mifsud and Yasmin Zammit Stevens qualified for the Commonwealth Games in Australia. These Games brought a different qualification system where only 14 participants from all commonwealth countries per category could qualify. Both Mifisud and Zammit Stevens automatically qualified as they ranked 12th and 11th respectively in the overall commonwealth ranking (1 per country) in their category.

Kieran Mifsud represented Malta in the European Junior Championships in Albania in the 105kg category. He finished with 131kg snatch and 171kg clean and jerk.

2018 Zammit Stevens went on to represent Malta in the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast Australia 2018 where she competed in 63kg category lifting a 79kg snatch, 95kg clean and jerk and 174kg total. In this games Jesmond Caruana served as coach while Gayle Caruana was selected technical official for these games.  Yasmin Zammit Stevens represented Malta in the Mediterranean Games in Tarragona, Spain. She competed in the 69kg category and finished with 80kg snatch, 105kg clean and jerk and 185kg total.

Zammit Stevens together with Rodmar Pulis competed in the University championships held in Biala Podlaska, Poland. Zammit Stevens competed in the 69kg category lifting 84kg Snatch and 100kg C&J. Pulis competed in the 85kg category and lifted 109kg Snatch and 145kg C&J.

Shelby Mangion Vassallo competed in the European Youths in Milan, qualification competition for Youth Olympics, in the 63kg category she lifted 60kg Snatch and 70kg C&J. Mangion Vassallo become the 2nd athlete competing in the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In the 63kg category she lifted 62kg Snatch and 76kg C&J. She was accompanied by coach Jesmond Caruana

In November 2018 the IWF changed the weight categories. The IWF world championships in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, were these where the first qualification event (OQ) for the 2020 Olympic Games.  Zammit Stevens competed in the 64kg category lifting 80kg Snatch and 99kg C&J

2019 Zammit Stevens competed in the European Senior Championships in Batumi, Georgia (OQ). She competed in the 64kg category lifting 86kg Snatch and 103kg C&J. She also competed in the IWF World Championships in Pattaya Thailand (OQ), in the 71kg category lifting 85kg Snatch and 105kg C&J. In The Mediterranean cup in Serraville San Marino (OQ) Zammit Stevens competed in the 71kg category lifting 85kg Snatch and 102kg C&J.

This year was very successful for the young athlete Tenishia Thornton. In the European Union cup held in Waterford Ireland she won the first medal for Malta since our first participation in 2015. With the B/W of 44.3kg U-15 she lifted 50kg Snatch and 62kg C&J, scoring 190 points and place in third. In the Women Grand Prix in Ljubljana Slovenia she won Gold medal in the U-14 with 191 points. Another two Gold medals came from Thorton and Kim Camilleri Lagana during the Challenge 210 (OQ) in Tramelan Switzerland. Camilleri Lagana competed in the U-13 with body weight of 28.31kg she lifted 27kg Snatch and 35kg C&J scoring 164 points. Thornton competed in the U-15 she lifted 52kg Snatch and 67kg C&J scoring 198 points. Thornton becomes the first local weightlifter competing in the European Under-15 Championships that were held in Eilat Israel.  In 45kg category she lifted 56kg Snatch and 68kg placing 5^th in Snatch and 6^th in the C&J, she also managed to set new European records in the process of Snatch.

2020 Zammit Stevens competed in the World Cup in Rome in (OQ). She competed in the 64kg category lifting 80kg Snatch and 99kg C&J.

Yasmin Zammit Stevens, Roberta Tabone and Tenishia Thornton qualified to compete in the Malta International Open (Olympic qualification event Silver level). This was the first time in the history of Malta that such event was hosted locally. Good result came from Tenisha Thornton lifting in the 45kg category lifting 55kg Snatch and 70kg Clean & Jerk and win 3 Gold medals. Both Tabone and Zammit Stevens competed in the 71kg category, Tabone lifted 77kg snatch and 96kg C&J, Zammit Stevens lifted 82kg Snatch and 107kg C&J she also managed to win a bronze medal in Snatch.

The year was very difficult because of Covid-19 pandemic, all international competitions were cancelled. By the end of the year the IWF together with Peru weightlifting organised the IWF Online Youth World Cup.  Both Rylee Borg and Tenishia Thornton competed in this event. Borg competed in the 67kg category lifting 78kg snatch and 98kg C&J. Thornton competed in the 49kg category lifting 71kg Snatch and 84kg C&J she won Silver medal in Snatch and Bronze medal in Total with 154kg, surely that this was the highest achievement ever reached by Malta Weightlifting in the International scene to date.

2021 – Year Highlights (Results Focus)

European Championships (Moscow)

• Tenishia Thornton achieved Malta’s best-ever result at the European Championships, finishing 10th, while setting multiple national records across all age categories and Commonwealth records at only at 15 years of age she competed in the 49kg category lifted 70kg Snatch and 89kg Clean&Jerk. 

• Yasmin Zammit Stevens placed 20th, she competed in the 71kg category lifted 88kg Snatch and 102kg Clean&Jerk. 

• Olympic Games – Tokyo 2020
  Yasmin Zammit Stevens represented Malta at the Tokyo Olympic Games through a Tripartite Invitation, marking another historic Olympic appearance for Maltese weightlifting and the participation on the Olympic stage. This achievement was made possible thanks to the support of the Malta Olympic Committee and the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). She was accompanied by coach Jesmond Caruana.

European Union Cup: International Mixed Team Competition

• Malta won its first-ever Gold Medal in a Mixed Team international event, a historic milestone for the federation.

World & Commonwealth Championships – Tashkent

• Two Bronze medals at the Commonwealth Championships:

  • Tenishia Thornton (U55kg)

  • Yasmin Zammit Stevens (U64kg)

2022

Malta Weightlifting – International Success

Tenishia Thornton completely changed the history of local weightlifting when, at just 16 years of age, she won the World Youth title at the IWF World Youth Championships in León, Mexico, becoming the first Maltese athlete to win a world title in an Olympic sport by securing three gold medals in the 55kg weight category. Snatch (78kg), C&J (100kg), Total (178kg)

More success came at the European Youth Championship in Raszyn, Poland. Tenishia Thornton again won the championship title in the 55kg category, claiming three gold medals in the Snatch (80kg), Clean and Jerk (96kg), and Total (176kg).

Kim Camilleri Lagana won the European U15 title in the 40kg category, earning one silver medal in the Snatch and two gold medals in the Clean and Jerk and Total, with lifts of 49kg in the Snatch, 62kg in the Clean and Jerk, and 111kg in Total. Camilleri Lagana also won the U15 overall with a total of 521.9 Robi points.

2023

Malta Weightlifting – International Success

Total: 40 International Medals

Individual Achievements

Kim Camilleri Lagana (12 medals)
Gold – EU Cup
2 Silver, 1 Bronze – Commonwealth Championships
3 Bronze – European U-15 Championships
Silver – European Small Nations Championships
Gold – Malta International Open
Silver – London Crystal Palace

Tenishia Thornton (8 medals)
Gold, Silver – Commonwealth Championships
2 Gold – European Small Nations Championships
Gold, Silver – Malta International Open
Gold – London Crystal Palace

Rylee Borg (7 medals)
2 Silver – Commonwealth Championships
Gold – European Small Nations Championships
Gold – London Crystal Palace
Gold, Silver – Malta International Open

Aaliyah Gatt (3 medals)
Silver – London Crystal Palace
Bronze – Malta International Open

Team Achievements

Rylee Borg & Kim Camilleri Lagana
Gold – European Small Nations Championships

Shaun Ciantar (2) & Anton Micallef (2)
Bronze – European Small Nations Championships

Shaun Ciantar, Anton Micallef, Vlad Baldacchino (1), Yasmin Zammit Stevens (1), Roberta Tabone (1) & Tenishia Thornton
Bronze – Mediterranean Cup

Rylee Borg, Luke Treeby Ward (1), Ryan Degiorgio (1), Monica Swayne (1), Kim Camilleri Lagana & Aaliyah Gatt
Silver – Malta International Open

2024

International Medal Success –  Season Review

The 2024 international season marked a historic and highly successful year for the Malta Weightlifting Association, with Maltese lifters competing across Europe and the world and delivering outstanding results at youth, junior, senior, and elite levels.

Across all international competitions in 2024, Maltese athletes amassed an impressive 53 international medals, broken down into:

• 🥇 32 Gold medals

• 🥈 13 Silver medals

• 🥉 8 Bronze medals

This remarkable medal haul reflects the continued growth, depth, and competitiveness of Maltese weightlifting on the international stage.

Tenishia Thornton once again led the national charge, finishing the year as Malta’s most decorated international athlete with 12 medals and Crowned EWF European Junior  Champion in Raszyn, Poland. Thornton won the championship title in the 64kg category, claiming three gold medals in the Snatch (89kg), Clean and Jerk (112kg), and Total (201kg).

Her standout performances included:

• 🥇 European Small Nations Championships (Monaco) – Overall Senior, Overall U20, and Doubles Senior titles

• 🥇 Women’s Grand Prix (Baden) – Overall U20 and Overall Senior

• 🥇 EU Cup (Bucharest) – Overall U20 and Doubles U20

• 🥇 European Junior Championships (Raszyn) – Snatch, Clean & Jerk, and Total

Thornton also represented Malta at the highest level, placing:

• 5th at the IWF World Cup (Phuket)

• 10th at the IWF World Junior Championships (León)

• Competing at the IWF World Senior Championships in Manama

Her consistency across age categories and elite competitions continues to set the benchmark for Maltese weightlifting.

Kim Camilleri Lagana delivered an exceptional season, collecting 8 international medals and win the podium at  EWF European Junior  Championship in Raszyn, Poland. Camilleri Lagana won in the 49kg category, claiming silver medal in the Clean and Jerk (83kg), and bronze medal in Total (148kg).

• 🥇 European Small Nations Championships – Doubles U20 and Overall U20

• 🥇 Women’s Grand Prix (Baden) – Overall U17 and podium finish in Senior category

• 🥇 EU Cup (Bucharest) – Overall U17 and Doubles U17

• She also gained invaluable experience at:

• EWF European Youth Championships (4th place)

• IWF World Junior Championships

• IWF World Senior Championships

Rylee Borg – 4 Medals

• 🥇 European Small Nations – Overall U20, Overall Team, Doubles Senior

• 🥇 EU Cup – Doubles U20

• Competed at World Juniors and World Seniors

Nathan Mifsud – 7 Medals

• 🥇 European Small Nations – Doubles U20 and Overall U20

• 🥇 Soroksár Cup – Overall U15, Overall U17, Category

• 🥇 EU Cup – Doubles U17 and Overall U15

• 9th at European Youth Championships

AWARDS

• Once again, Maltese weightlifting reached the finals of the Sport Malta Awards through Tenishia Thornton, Jesmond Caruana, Kim Camilleri Lagana, and Rylee Borg.

Tenishia Thornton:
• Won the Athlete of the Year award for the first time, after having won the Young Athlete of the Year award for three consecutive years from the Sports Journalists Association.
• She also won the Free Hour Youth Award and the Atlas International Award for the month of October.

Kim Camilleri Lagana:
• Won the Young Athlete of the Year award for the first time from the Sports Journalists Association.
• Won the Atlas International Award for the month of September and was a finalist for the Atlas Athlete of the Year Award.

Rylee Borg:
• Won the Atlas National Award for the month of April.

2025

International Competitions

1. March; European Small Nations & International Open – Marsa – Malta
2. April; Soroksar Cup – Budapest – Hungary
3. May; IWF World Youth & Junior Championships – Lima – Peru
4. July; EWF European Youth Championships – Madrid – Spain
5. August; Trophy of the Blue Sword – Meissen – Germany
6. September; Mediterranean Cup – Cairo – Egypt
7. October; IWF World Senior Championships – Forde – Norway
8. October; La Corunia Cup – Corunia – Spain
9. October; San Marino Cup – San Marino
10. October; Challenge 210 – Tramalan – Switzerland
11. November; EWF European Junior Championships – Tirana – Albania
12. December; European Union Cup & International Junior Open – Marsa – Malta
13. December; London Open

General Overview of Medals

Throughout the year, the athletes won a total of 54 international medals, divided as follows:

• . 23 Gold Medals
  • 13 Silver Medals
  • 18 Bronze Medals

Other Achievements

Local

• Once again, Maltese weightlifting reached the finals of the Malta Sport Awards through Tenishia Thornton, Jesmond Caruana, Kim Camilleri Lagana, Rylee Borg, and Nathan Mifsud.

Tenishia Thornton:
• Won the honour of Best Athlete of the Year for the first time, after winning the Best Young Athlete award for three consecutive years from the Sports Journalists Association.
• Also won the Free Hour Youth Award.

Kim Camilleri Lagana:
• Won the Best Young Female Athlete of the Year award for the first time from the Sports Journalists Association.

The MOC Awards were also held, where athletes Tenishia Thornton, Kim Camilleri Lagana, Rylee Borg, and Nathan Mifsud won a total of four Bronze Awards.

The Presidents of Malta Weightlifting since 1975

Since its formation in 1975, several individuals served on the committee of the M.W.A.:

Mr. Charles Mifsud the Founder and President till his passing away in 2004.

2005/2006 President Mr. Alfred Ellul Mercer

2006/2009 President Mr. David Saliba

2009/ to present President Mr. Jesmond Joseph Caruana

Mr. Jesmond Joseph Caruana is also very active in International Weightlifting and he was elected in many different Committees.