Fourteen-year-old artistic gymnast Sophie St John has been named the winner of the Atlas Youth Athlete of the Year Award 2025, following an outstanding season defined by international success, medal-winning performances, and sustained excellence at the elite level.
Sophie secured the prestigious annual honour after a combined evaluation by a panel of three sports journalists, together with a public online vote held over recent weeks. Her technical quality, competitive maturity, and consistency throughout the year set her apart from a strong field of emerging youth athletes.
A defining moment of her 2025 campaign came at the Games of the Small States of Europe in Andorra, where she delivered a remarkable performance, winning five medals, including three golds. Those results proved decisive in the final assessment and further cemented her reputation as one of Malta’s most promising young gymnasts.
Across the season, Sophie represented Malta in a demanding international programme that included the Junior World Championships, Mediterranean Championships, European Youth Olympic Festival, EYOF Preparation Event, Luxembourg Open, Tiger Cup, and the Malta National Championships. Her ability to compete consistently across such a wide range of events highlighted both her physical readiness and competitive resilience.
At the Games of the Small States of Europe, Sophie recorded an impressive all-around total of 46.400, while also excelling in the apparatus finals. She continued her strong form at the Tiger Cup, Luxembourg Open, and Malta Championships, producing competitive scores across vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise.
The award presentation was held in the presence of Atlas Insurance CEO and Managing Director Matthew von Brockdorff and Chief Commercial Officer Robert Micallef, who formally presented Sophie with the annual trophy and a sports apparel voucher.
The Malta Sports Journalists Association was represented by President Antvin Monseigneur and General Secretary Joanna Camilleri, while the Malta Gymnastics Federation was represented by President Robert Magro.
During the event, Atlas Insurance also confirmed the renewal of its collaboration with the Malta Sports Journalists Association for another year in relation to the Youth Athlete Awards initiative. The programme aims to encourage, recognise, and promote emerging Maltese sporting talent across all disciplines.
The Youth Athlete Awards are a joint initiative between the Malta Sports Journalists Association and Atlas Insurance. The adjudicating panel evaluates performances and achievements throughout the year, while also inviting nominations from local sports associations and federations for athletes under twenty-one who have distinguished themselves in their sport.
All monthly award winners automatically qualify for consideration for the annual title. Nominations may be submitted via email to [email protected], while full rules and regulations are available on www.maltasportsjournalists.com.
