Jack Mizzi (Chess) and Tenishia Thornton (Weightlifting) have been named winners of the prestigious Atlas Youth Athlete of the Month Award for October, recognising their outstanding achievements in their respective disciplines.
Eighteen-year-old Jack Mizzi achieved a remarkable feat by winning the 89th edition of the Malta Chess Championship. In doing so, he retained the Junior Champion title for the third consecutive year. Competing in a double round-robin format, Mizzi played twice against each finalist, once with the white pieces and once with the black. Remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament, he secured 8 points out of a possible 10, making him one of the youngest-ever winners of the Malta Chess Championship.
Nineteen-year-old Tenishia Thornton delivered an exceptional performance at the European Junior Championships in Warsaw, Poland, where she was crowned European Champion. Thornton impressed in the Snatch discipline, opening with a lift of 86 kilogrammes before completing a stunning 89-kilogram attempt. In the Clean and Jerk, she began confidently with a lift of 107 kilogrammes but missed the 110-kilogram jerk attempt. However, in a dramatic final attempt, she succeeded with a lift of 112 kilogrammes, setting a new national record. Thornton’s combined total of 201 kilogrammes secured her the gold medal, ahead of competitors from Romania (196 kilogrammes) and Spain (194 kilogrammes).
The award was presented to Thornton by Matthew von Brockdorff, Managing Director and CEO of Atlas Insurance, during a ceremony attended by Malta Sports Journalists Association (MSJA) President Clinton Buhagiar and Administrator Stephen Azzopardi. Jack Mizzi’s presentation will take place at a later date upon his return to Malta.
The Atlas Youth Athlete of the Month Award, a joint initiative by the MSJA and Atlas Insurance, acknowledges the national and international achievements of young athletes under the age of 21. Sporting associations and federations are invited to nominate exceptional athletes each month, with all monthly winners eligible for the annual award.
