The Malta Weightlifting team made a strong impression at the Commonwealth Games, with four athletes, two coaches, and an international technical official representing the nation on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
Qualification for the Games was achieved after an intense 18-month qualification period, during which athletes from across the Commonwealth competed to secure a place among the top nine ranked lifters in their respective weight categories.
Team Malta was represented by Kim Camilleri Lagana (53kg), Roberta Tabone (61kg), Tenishia Thornton (69kg), and Rylee Borg (88kg). The team was led by coaches Jesmond Caruana and Rodmar Pulis, all forming part of the Maltese Olympic Committee delegation.
Adding further distinction to Malta’s presence, Ms Gayle Caruana was appointed by the Commonwealth Games Association (CGA) and the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) to serve as a Competition Doctor, highlighting the international recognition of Maltese expertise within the sport.
Kim Camilleri Lagana – 8th Place
Eighteen-year-old Kim Camilleri Lagana was the youngest athlete in her category and produced an impressive performance despite returning from injury.
In the snatch, she successfully lifted 70kg and 72kg before narrowly missing 73kg, a lift that would have been a new personal best after briefly taking the lead in the competition. In the clean and jerk, she successfully completed lifts of 90kg and 93kg before falling short at 96kg.
Kim finished the competition in 8th place with a total of 166kg, demonstrating great determination and promising potential for the future.
Foto G. Scala / DBM – Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
Roberta Tabone – 5th Place
Roberta Tabone delivered Team Malta’s best result of the Games, finishing in an excellent 5th place.
She successfully lifted 86kg and 89kg in the snatch before narrowly missing 91kg. In the clean and jerk, she confidently opened with 110kg, missed her second attempt at 115kg, but showed great resilience by returning to successfully complete the lift on her final attempt.
Tabone concluded the competition with a total of 204kg, securing Malta’s highest individual placing.
Rylee Borg – 8th Place
Twenty-year-old Rylee Borg finished 8th in the men’s competition.
Despite being the youngest athlete in the field, Borg fought for every kilogram, producing a strong 129kg snatch and a 166kg clean and jerk for a combined total of 295kg.
His participation also marked a historic milestone for Maltese weightlifting, as he became the first male athlete to represent Malta at the Commonwealth Games since Kevin Cassar competed in 2002.
Tenishia Thornton – 7th Place
Tenishia Thornton secured 7th place after an outstanding performance that included a new Maltese national record.
She opened with a successful 90kg snatch before missing 93kg on her second attempt. Showing great composure, she returned to successfully lift 93kg on her final attempt, establishing a new national record.
In the clean and jerk, Thornton confidently opened with 114kg, just one kilogram below her personal best. She twice completed the clean at 117kg but was unable to secure the jerk overhead on either attempt. She finished the competition with a total of 207kg.
Foto G. Scala / DBM – Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
A Landmark Achievement for Malta Weightlifting
The Commonwealth Games campaign showcased the continued growth of Malta Weightlifting, with one of the strongest teams ever assembled representing the country at the event.
The performances of all four athletes reflected the dedication and hard work invested throughout the qualification period. Together with the commitment of the coaching staff and the international appointment of Dr Gayle Caruana, Team Malta demonstrated that the nation continues to make significant progress on the international weightlifting stage.
The results achieved at the Commonwealth Games provide a solid foundation for the future and reinforce Malta’s growing reputation within the international weightlifting community.
