Maltese para powerlifter Nick Mercieca achieved a new personal best at the World Para Powerlifting Junior World Championships, held earlier today in Cairo, Egypt. Competing in the junior men’s up to 59 kg weight class, Nick registered a best lift of 110 kg, setting both a personal and seasonal best. His impressive performance earned him fifth place in the Next Generation age group (18–20 years old).

Nick also secured a bronze medal for the best total lift in his category, with a combined total of 315 kg across his three successful attempts.

This competition marked a historic moment for Maltese para sport, as Nick became the first Maltese athlete to represent Malta at the WPPO Junior World Championships — a prestigious event and a key milestone on the qualification pathway for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.

Nick’s results in Cairo reflect a 10% improvement from his performance at the WPPO Para Powerlifting World Cup held in Tbilisi, Georgia, in May earlier this year. With this momentum, Nick now sets his sights on the European Championships, scheduled for March 2026.

Nick’s participation at the World Championships was made possible through the dedicated guidance of Head Coach Ali Jawad PLY, Coach Matteo Aquilina, and the unwavering support of his family and team. His international journey is supported by the SportMalta International Participation Scheme 2025, alongside his sponsors — BMIT Technologies (main sponsor), Eurosport Malta (sports sponsors), and The Radiology Clinic (health monitoring).