The annual weightlifting European Small Nations tournament is set to take place this weekend in Reykjavik, Iceland. The competition will see teams from Cyprus, San Marino, Iceland and other small nations challenge Malta's top team on Saturday. Vlad Baldacchino, Matthew Camilleri and Rodmar Pulis will be representing Malta from the men's side while commonwealth Games 7th place finisher Yazmin Zammit Stevens along with Elisia Scicluna and Shelby Mangion Vassallo will be representing for the women.

This team will be one of the strongest Malta has ever sent over to a small nations tournament. Home team Iceland have not yet announced their official team, however they are known to have some of the world's best crossfit athletes with very strong backgrounds in weightlifting. Safe to say they will be bringing their best athletes to the meet, and are ready to put on a show.

This competition will be a very important one for our athletes as it is the last opportunity to qualify for the Mediterranean Games set to take place in Tarragona this June. Yazmin Zammit Stevens has already met the qualifying total, while both Elisia Scicluna and Vlad Baldacchino are within a few kilos of doing so. The meet will also be a very important part of Shelby Mangion Vassallo's  preparation for the youth Olympic Games towards the end of this year. The team will be accompanied by national team coach and president of the MWA Jesmond Caruana. The newly elected Vice-president of the Commonwealth weightlifting federation flew in from Gold Coast earlier to continue his athletes preparation for this meet.