Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/960495
maltatoday SUNDAY 1 APRIL 2018 53 SWIMMING BODYBUILDING & FITNESS Sports International success for Marsaxlokk ASC SEVEN months after coming together as a swimming club, last weekend, three young athletes from Marsaxlokk ASC travelled to their second international meet of the season. Kyra Jade Debono, Sasha Gatt and Matthew Zammit took part in the Interna- tional Swimming Festival in Regensburg, Germany, an annual age group meet com- prising 52 clubs with 648 swimmers from Germany, Hungary, Italy and the Czech Re- public. Throughout an intense three-day compe- tition, the small squad performed in 17 rac- es, achieving seven personal best times and 12-year-old Sasha Gatt winning five med- als. Gatt delivered an early gold in her first ever attempt at 400m freestyle in a time of 4.55.19. She then reached the 50m free and 50m f ly finals clocking amazing pb's of 29.90 and 32.57 respectively, the latter re- warded with a bronze medal. A further per- sonal best of 1.04.25 and a silver medal was Sasha's prize for the 100m free, followed by two additional podium appearances for her bronze medal achievements in the 100m f ly and 200m freestyle heat swims. Four other excellent pb's were to come from 17-year-old Matthew Zammit and 15 -year-old Kyra Jade Debono. Zammit hit the wall in 1.00.12 in his 100m freestyle and, for the 200, achieved a new time of 2.13.88. Debono swam pb's of 2.31.27, 200m free and 35.01 in her 50m f ly. During the same weekend, two other Marsaxlokk squad members, Alexandra McGonigle and Kyle Buhagiar were swim- ming at the International Hi-Point open meet in Zurich, 430 kilometres away, fol- lowing an invitation to join the ASA Na- tional squad. Pitching their skills against athletes from Switzerland, Germany and Belarus, the Marsaxlokk pair achieved sev- en outstanding pb's and won places in four A finals. The delighted Marsaxlokk ASC coach, Catalin Stan, said, "These results ref lect hard work, dedication and commitment. Our athletes understand the amount of work involved to improve their times by even the smallest split, so I'm pleased that we've achieved targets - and, indeed, ex- ceeded them - in international arenas." Focused training will continue for the whole squad over the Easter break as they prepare for this year's Guess Easter Interna- tional Swim Meet, 5 - 7 April at Tal-Qroqq. (L-R) Matthew Zammit, Catalin Stan (coach), Sasha Gatt & Kyra Jade Debono, Marsaxlokk squad members heading for Regensburg, Germany MFBBF National Championships, IFBB Diamond Cup Malta & IFBB Elite Pro Show 7-8 April 2018 After a very successful edition of the IFBB Diamond Cup in 2017, the island of Malta will be the place to be in April THIS year, the event is going to be bigger with the MFBBF National Championships, IFBB diamond Cup and as well a new addition the IFBB Elite Pro Show all taking place 6-8 April 2018. Malta will be hosting the sec- ond official IFBB Elite Pro con- test after the successful season opener in Greece last weekend. The best amateur and pro ath- letes from Europe, North Africa and Asia will be competing in this contest. €25,000 total in prize money will be won in the IFBB Elite Pro division. Tentative schedule is as follows: Friday 6th April: 10am – 6pm: IFBB Diamond Cup Registra- tion Friday 6th April: 6.30pm: IFBB Diamond Cup Judges Meeting Saturday 7th April: 10am – 5pm: IFBB Diamond Cup Part 1 Saturday 7th April: 5 – 6.30pm: IFBB Elite Pro Regis- tration & Meeting Saturday 7th April: 6.30 – 11pm: MFBBF National Cham- pionships Sunday 8th April: 10am – 6pm: IFBB Diamond Cup Part 2 Sunday 8th April:6 – 9pm: IFBB Elite Pro Malta Official Hotel and Contest ven- ue: Dolmen Resort Hotel Malta. For more information, contact Ralph Decelis on: Ralph.Decelis@mf bbf.org The local team competing in the IFBB Diamond Cup are as follows: Bikini Fitness: Noémi Kovács Samantha Mifsud Krystle Tonna Sabrina Micallef Kirsten Axiaq Vanessa Cini Joanne Ellul Lanfranco Body Fitness: Joan Zammit Wellness: Sabrina Grima Sabrina Villari Men's Physique: Osvaldo Kitcher Ryan Delia Rod Cassar Frankie Muscat Ismael Bondin Antonio Guerrera Andrew Farrugia Muscular Physique: Mauro Magro Henrik Lindh Classic Bodybuilding: Antonio Governali Daniel Tabone Bodybuilding David Zammit Carlos Caruana SteveJac Borg Franklin Grima Roderick Theuma Giuseppe Cali Vincenzo Ammostr Coppola Warrën Spiteri Mario Cardona IFBB Diamond Cup in 2017, the island of THE MALTA FEDERATION OF BODYBUILDING & FITNESS PROUDLY INVITES YOU TO THE 6-8 APRIL 2018 DOLMEN RESORT HOTEL, ST. PAUL'S BAY, MALTA Saturday 7th April 2018 6pm onwards: MFBBF Nationals Sunday 8th April 2018 6pm onwards: IFBB Elite Pro For more information please visit www.mfbbf.org or contact us on info@mfbbf.org NOTE: Athletes, delegates & supporters are recommended to book their accommodation directly through the hotel's website www.dolmen.com.mt and use the promo code DCM2018 ("group attendee") for favourable event rates including healthy/diet food. Kindly copy your accommodation details to ralph.decelis@mfbbf.org Saturday 7 April 2018 10am - 5pm: IFBB Diamond Cup Malta - Part 1 Sunday 8 April 2018 10am - 5pm: IFBB Diamond Cup Malta - Part 2 MFBBF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, IFBB DIAMOND CUP & IFBB ELITE PRO Friday 6 April 2018 10am-6pm: Diamond Cup Registration