Gianluca Barbara secures gold in Madrid Taekwondo Masters Open

Held in Madrid and featuring masters athletes from more than eight countries across three continents, the competition was accompanied by a high-level international training camp.

In a mark of recognition of his growing stature in the sport, Barbara was personally invited by 2025 World Masters champion Eduardo Lozano to co-lead the camp.

Together, they trained and guided athletes from eight different nations, spanning Europe, North America, and beyond.

Individual performance

Barbara showcased exceptional form throughout the tournament, beginning with a commanding semifinal victory over Spain’s Roberto Fernández Pelegrín, winning by “point gap”; meaning the match was concluded before the round time elapsed.

He followed this with an equally emphatic performance in the final against the United States’ Roberto Arana – a 2025 world champion from the Taipei Games – once again securing victory by “point gap”.

In addition to his individual success, Barbara played a key role in the team combat event as part of an international squad alongside: Johan Lenander (Sweden) +80kg; Serghei Dominici (Luxembourg) -58kg and Fran Tellez (Spain) -68kg

The team delivered an impressive campaign, defeating the United States team in the semifinals before overcoming a strong Spanish side in the final – featuring none other than world champion Eduardo Lozano.

Recognition on the international stage

Barbara’s performances across both individual and team events, combined with his leadership role in the international training camp, culminated in him being awarded Best Male Competitor of the tournament – a recognition reserved for the most outstanding athlete of the event.

A milestone for Maltese Taekwondo

This achievement marks another significant milestone for Maltese taekwondo on the international stage, reinforcing Barbara’s position among Europe’s leading masters athletes and highlighting Malta’s growing presence in elite-level competition.

His individual gold medal is his 15th gold over 16 competitions since 2024, with the remaining being silver. 

With victories over high-level masters opponents and recognition from some of the sport’s most respected figures, Barbara continues to build momentum as one of the standout competitors in the Masters circuit.

In a statement, the Malta Taekwondo Association expressed its gratitude to Eduardo Lozano and the Federación Madrileña de Taekwondo for their exceptional hospitality and organisation of both the training camp and competition.

Special thanks were also extended to Serghei Dominici and teammate Francesco Scarciolla for their coaching and support throughout the competition day.