Gymstars athletes show their potential

Gymstars Gymnastics Club have just hosted another international competition, the 12th since the series started in 2004, at their headquarters in Tarxien.

The two-day competition attracted gymnasts from England, Scotland, Germany, Sweden and, for the first time, a group from the Jordan Gymnastics Federation.

As expected, with an array of talented gymnasts on show, competition was stiff and challenging.

In fact, some of the English clubs fielded athletes who managed places in the finals of British Gymnastics this year.

The foreign clubs all had their own stars – Mercedes Miladinovic (Roch-dale), Imagen King (Port Regis), Anna Monso de Zunigo (Ladywell), Jenna Pratt (Meapa), Jessica Daykin (Wiltshire), Caralino Sanchez (Germany), Nameti Alhendi (Jordan) and Elin Sandberg (Sweden).

Gymstars still produced a determined display and again finished with some prestigious results, giving further prove that the sport is developing fast in Malta.

After her success at the Island Games, Kirsty Caruana secured a bronze medal on vault and also finished second overall in her category. In the same competition, Adreana Zammit continued her progress, showing class in all her routines.

In the lower categories, Sana Grillo won a gold medal on vault and finished second overall.

Claire Azzopardi did not win any medals but won the admiration of all with her polished displays.

Suzanne Buttigieg also showed great potential when finishing fifth overall from over 54 entries and third on vault.

Julie Ann Fenech was fifth on vault in the D Competition and team-mate Sara Paris also left her mark in gaining a fourth place on vault and fifth on floor.

In Competition C, 10 to 13 years, Mia Vickery again distinguished herself with a gold medal when delivering a sound performance on floor. She was third overall and Tara Dalli fifth.

Presentation of medals was presided by Malta’s Ambassador to Jordan Anthony DeBono who is also a Maltese Olympic Committee director.