#49: ITL Coach Wins IZIBET Elite Athlete Award

For the first time ever, a Maltese taekwondo player has won the IZIBET elite athlete award. And the winner… is an Iron Taekwondo League player.

The National Lottery PLC and Malta Sports Journalists Association (MSJA) together announced that Gianluca Barbara (ITL) won the first IZIBET Elite Athlete Award for 2024. The award covers the months of January and February.

Gianluca, 34, achieved this honour because of his success in his recent string of competitions abroad. He received three gold medals from three competitions (the Brussels Open, Open de Liege, and the Lot et Garonne in France).

Of all the competitions, the Open de Liege 2024 garnered the most attention. There, Gianluca competed in the -80 kg Masters Category and triumphed over Dutch master Norman Hornberger.

The win made the headlines across various Maltese platforms including Lovin Malta, which featured footage of the fight. “It is a great pleasure for us to support athletes that are in search of excellence in their sport,” said Franco de Gabriele, Chief Commercial Officer of IZI Group.

“The achievements of Gianluca in such a competitive discipline are just the tip of the iceberg. One would need to appreciate and support the arduous process that is involved in making sure that such achievements are attained.”

“We wish Gianluca the best of luck for his future endeavors and hope that he will be an inspiration for other athletes competing at these levels.” Sandro Micallef, the Malta Sports Journalists Association’s President, said, “As Malta Sports Journalists Association, we are glad to have an athlete from an emerging sports discipline winning this award.

This award is not only the reward for the continuous improvement of Gianluca Barbara as an individual athlete, but it also reflects the commitment the Malta Taekwondo Association is giving to this sport in Malta.”

A selection board composed of sports journalists and sports observers is responsible for evaluating the athlete’s achievements during the designated review periods, ensuring a fair and thorough assessment process.