Incredible Maltese Weightlifter Smashes Six National Records
Maltese weightlifter Yazmin Zammit Stevens just set six national records during her recent competition at the 29th World University Games in Taipei, Taiwan, where she finished 19th overall among her world champion and olympian competitors in the 63kg category.
The two weightlifting events that Yazmin competed in were the Snatch, and the Clean and Jerk; in which each competitor has three attempts to set a record. In these two events, all scores are taken individually by event, and also added together for a total. In Taipei, Yazmin broke the Clean & Jerk record – which she had previously set herself – on her very first attempt. She then outdid her freshly broken record on her second and third attempts, as well as totals.
Yazmin is no rookie when it comes to smashing records. In fact, she’s done so 53 times in her career as a professional weightlifter, so far.
“I initially got into weightlifting through cross-fit, which includes weightlifting as part of its training. The national team coach had told me I should try weightlifting because he saw potential. This was almost 2 years ago,” Yazmin told Lovin Malta.
After Yazmin graduated from the University of Malta with a degree in Maths and Statistics, she saw that her own statistics inside the gym were impressive enough to train full-time in pursuit of the next olympics.
“This competition was a very important step towards that goal- and the result was super positive. I’m so happy!”
There are currently around twenty-five to thirty professional female weight lifters in Malta, and Yazmin would love to see that number grow.
“Anyone interested can contact me through my Instagram. I’d love for more women to realise this isn’t only a guy’s sport, or to know that you don’t have to be ‘manly’ to be a weightlifter,” Yazmin said. “I hate when people tell me I don’t look like a weightlifter! They think its a compliment…”
It’s clear that Yazmin isn’t only setting new records for Malta, she’s also successfully changing the image of the entire sport for women.