Historic start for Malta at European Under-20 Weightlifting Championships in Warsaw

Camilleri Lagana wins silver and bronze medals in 49kg category

The Malta Weightlifting national team kicked off its commitments at the European Under-20 Weightlifting Championships in Warsaw, Poland, in some style on Saturday.

Competing in the 49kg category, Kim Camilleri Lagana delivered an outstanding performance, clinching Malta’s first-ever medals in the European Junior Championships when bringing home a silver and bronze medal.

In the Snatch event, Camilleri Lagana made a strong start, successfully lifting 63kg and 65kg, though narrowly missing her final attempt at 67kg.

Camilleri Lagana’s 65kg lift equaled that of Moldova’s lifter, but because the Moldovan completed the lift first, Camilleri Lagana finished just outside the podium in fourth place. Greece took the gold medal ahead of Great Britain.

Camilleri Lagana truly shone in the Clean & Jerk, where she began confidently with an 83kg lift that secured her the silver medal, surpassing many seasoned athletes from across Europe.

The Maltese lifter then attempted an ambitious 89kg in a bid to move up to the silver in the overall standings. Despite her determined effort, she narrowly missed completing the lift.

Nonetheless, her performance was enough to earn her a bronze medal for her total lifts, marking a historic achievement for Malta in junior weightlifting on the European stage.

The championships continue this week, with Tenishia Thornton scheduled to compete on Tuesday and Rylee Borg on Wednesday, as the Malta team aims to build on Camilleri Lagana’s groundbreaking success.