Locals underline progress in GymStars competition

Maltese gymnasts underlined their on-going progress during another international competition organised by GymStars Club, of Tarxien, recently.

The performances of several young GymStars members and one representing the ISC club showed that their preparations for next year's Games of the Small States of Europe in Cyprus are on track.

Their improvement was in ample evidence during a high-level competition involving foreign participants from five clubs hailing from Belgium and England, and held in the presence of Pippo Psaila, the director of sport at the Maltese Olympic Committee and Roberto De Santis, the president of the Malta Gymnastics Federation.

The competition was classified as a ranking event by the local federation. Belgians Danitja Vandebroek and Dagmar van Theemsch, and Tyesha Mattis, Sherienne Kelly, Katrina Feklistova, Asliegh Wright, Sasha O'Neil, Amy Murphy and Lauren Roffe, all from England, impressed with their outstanding displays. Dolphina Gymnastics Club topped the clubs' classification after winning a bagful of medals.

The Maltese participants also left a very positive impression as they made the podium in several categories. GymStars' Kirsty Caruana was first in Category A, winning gold in floor, silver in vault and bronze in the uneven bars.

Adreanna Zammit was second overall while Nicole Pace, also of GymStars, and Martina Galea placed fourth and fifth respectively.

Having achieved excellent results in vault, floor, and uneven bars, the GymStars athletes are now targeting better results in beam and bars in upcoming competitions. There is also the possibility that GymStars members will travel to Luxembourg for an invitational competition.

Young Mia Vickery demonstrated her potential once again by finishing first overall in the 10-13 C category. Vickery also took gold in floor, silver in uneven bars, bronze in beam and claimed fourth place in vault. In the same category, Tara Dalli finished third overall after winning medals in floor (silver) and vault (bronze). In the day reserved for finals, Dalli clinched top spot ahead of Vickery who was second.

Other GymStars athletes who did well in the last competition were Sherazat Williams who placed third in Category D 14-16 after landing bronze in beam, floor and uneven bars and silver in vault.

A commendable third place overall was gained by the fast-improving Suzanne Buttigieg who won gold in floor and bronze in beam, while Claire Azzopardi, who competed in the same category as Buttigieg, claimed bronze in uneven bars and floor.

Ria Mifsud, in the D 10-13 category, captured a silver medal in vault.

In a statement, Gymstars congratulated its members for their showings at the recently-held club event.