#27: Record Breaking! ITL Athlete Ranked 6th In Europe

Since its inception late last year, ITL hit the ground running and kept the momentum going. It wasn’t long before the work ethic bore fruit, with one of its athletes shooting to a 6th place rank across Europe.

Michela Scerri, an ITL and Malta Taekwondo Association athlete has shot herself to sixth place in the latest European height-category rankings (-152 cm). And that’s without the inclusion of last weekend’s silver medal, attained from the Solidarity Games in France.

This ranking is undoubtedly the greatest ever achieved by a Maltese athlete in Taekwondo.

You can view her ranking by clicking here.

Michela (left, blue)

Sorted by weight, Michela has a 36th-place continental rank. Remarkably, this would still be the highest ever attained by a Maltese athlete.

Height categories are a new system in World Taekwondo. They allow for athlete divisions to be ordered by height, rather than by weight.

This system was devised to reduce aggressive weight cuts in Taekwondo, preserving athletes’ long-term health.

In order: Michela, Alycia Cassar (ITL/MTA athlete), Anna Vassallo (MTA President), Gianluca Barbara (ITL Coach)

Since December 2022, Michela has competed in Brussels (twice), Turkey, Albania, Serbia, and France. She also attended training camps in Greece, and in Malta - led by renowned coaches like Hadi Mostaan (Iran).

Michela also medalled in the Games of the Small States in Europe held in Malta last year and took part in the first-ever Cadet European Championship, historically held in Malta.

In order: Ditmir Vodinaj (ITL/MTA Coach) and Michela

Competitions aside, a work ethic dictated by an aggressive dedication to training has undoubtedly contributed to this achievement.

With more high-potential athletes on the ITL roster, the team continues to eye more achievements - personal or professional - in the coming months.

Congratulations, Michela!