Over the weekend, a team from the Malta Weightlifting Association took part in the Trophy of the Blue Swords in Meissen, Germany. This prestigious tournament, renowned for its distinctive format, features men and women competing directly against one another.
Roberta Tabone was the first Maltese lifter on stage. After a difficult start, she secured 85kg in the Snatch. She then looked stronger in the Clean & Jerk, successfully lifting 107kg and 111kg — the latter a personal best. On her third attempt, she aimed for 115kg to set a new national record but narrowly missed the Jerk.
Next up was Rylee Borg, who opened the Snatch with 120kg, followed it up with a solid 124kg, but missed his attempt at 127kg. In the Clean & Jerk, he was in top form, hitting 155kg and then 161kg, which marked a new national record. On his final attempt at 165kg, he was unable to complete the Jerk.
In the final group of the day, Tenishia Thornton began strongly with an 87kg Snatch. She missed her second attempt at 90kg but came back to secure it on her third try. In the Clean & Jerk, she lifted 108kg and 112kg before attempting 115kg, which she did not manage to complete.
Thornton achieved the best result for Malta, finishing 9th overall in the final standings. The competition was won by Olympic silver medalist Keyrodmar from Venezuela.
This tournament was an important milestone for the Maltese lifters as they continue their preparations for the World Championships in Norway at the end of September.
