Lifter Thornton wins historic three gold medals in World Youth Championships

Tenishia Thornton continued to rewrite history in Maltese weightlifting when the young sensation bagged an astonishing three gold medals at the World Youth Championships held in Mexico on Monday night.

Competing in the women’s 55kg class, the young lifter topped the standings in clean & jerk, snatch and overall to return home with three gold medals around her neck and the title of world youth champion… an unprecedented result in the history of Maltese weightlifting.

In the snatch class, it was Mexico’s Maria Hernandez who was the leading favourite for the gold medal and she successfully lifted 75kg on her first lift.

Thornton failed in her first attempt on 76kg but quickly made amends when she managed the lift on her second attempt.

Noura Essam Mohamed from Egypt also managed the 76kg as the battle for honours here was between these three lifters.

Hernandez’s hopes of victory suffered a blow when she failed her two attempts on 77kg and had to settle for the bronze medal.

On the other hand, Thornton stunned the field with a successful 78kg lift to take the gold medal ahead of Mohamed.

In the clean and jerk, Thornton was the strongest of the field when she managed a successful 100kg lift to set a new Commonwealth and national record.

Thornton finished ahead of Mohamed who took silver with her second attempt at 95kg with Hernandez again settling for bronze with 93kg.

In the overall standings, Thornton bagged her gold medal of the day when she totalled 178kg to finish ahead of Mohamed (171) and Hernandez (168).