Watch: Weightlifter Camilleri Lagana qualifies for Youth World Championships

The first weightlifting competition of 2023 was specifically organised for the youth athletes this weekend.

This youth competition served as a qualification event for the IWF Youth World Championships (YWC) set to take place in Albania in March.

Kim Camilleri Lagana, who was named European Under 15 champion in 2022, successfully qualified for the upcoming Youth World Championships after she managed a whopping 124kg total in the 45kg category.

Camilleri Lagana managed all three snatch attempts at 51kg, 53kg, and 54kg followed by another successful first two clean and jerk attempts at 68kg and 70kg.

She was unfortunately unsuccessful on her third attempt after attempting a new national record in the clean and jerk for this weight class at 71kg.

Camilleri Lagana did not only qualify for the biggest youth event of the year, but she has also moved up to platinum position in the MWA international rankings which is a feat only junior athlete Tenihsia Thornton had reached before. 

Other successful results came from Aaliyah Gatt who finished with 47kg in the snatch and 60kg in the clean and jerk in the 55Kg category.

NSS ex-student Rylee Borg only managed a snatch of 99kg, and went on to finish his clean and jerks with 120kg in the 73kg category.

Another NSS student, Nathan Mifsud, finished with 45kg in the snatch and 58kg in the clean and jerk, weighing in at 44kg.

This Youth competition organised by the Malta Weightlifting Association also saw athletes from the “ #Onthemove program” participate, adding to the ever-growing youth participation of weightlifting in Malta. 

The MWA Junior and Senior qualification event will take place on February 18 and will serve as a qualifier for the European Senior Championships.