Marking the culmination of another year of monthly youth athlete awards, The Malta Sports Journalists Association and Atlas Insurance officially launched the public voting for the Atlas Youth Athlete of the Year Award 2025, which is taking place on 14-23 January.
Voting will take place on the Atlas Insurance official Facebook page, where members of the public are invited to cast their vote for one of the athletes who received the Atlas Youth Athlete of the Month Award over the past 12 months.

The Atlas Youth Athlete of the Year 2025 will then be determined through a combination of public votes and the evaluation of a panel of sports journalists.

Robert Micallef, Chief Commercial Officer of Atlas Insurance, encouraged members of the public to support the initiative by casting their votes, while congratulating all the candidates for their achievements. He added that: “Watching young athletes grow, compete, and succeed has been one of the most rewarding aspects of our Youth Athlete of the Month Award. At Atlas, we believe that sport plays a vital role in nurturing both physical and mental well-being, while strengthening the communities around us. It has been an honour to recognise exceptional talent throughout the year, both locally and beyond our shores.”

MSJA President Antvin Monseigneur called on the public to actively engage with the Youth Athlete of the Year initiative by submitting their votes, while extending his congratulations to all nominees for their dedication and high level of performance.
He emphasised that the programme has become an important platform for highlighting the commitment and progress of young athletes, describing it as a meaningful way to acknowledge those who continue to raise the standard of sport. Monseigneur also highlighted Atlas’s strong belief in the positive impact of sport on personal development and community life, adding that it has been a rewarding experience to recognise emerging talent across both the local and international sporting landscape.

The journalists’ vote will carry 60% of the total outcome whilst the popular public vote will carry the other 40% of the vote. The winner of the 2025 Award will be announced in February, followed by the official presentation of the prestigious trophy of the Atlas Youth Athlete of the Year.

The 24 athletes eligible for the Atlas Youth Athlete of the Year Award 2025 are:
Matthew Zammit (Table Tennis) and Thea Parnis Coleiro (Athletics) – January
Tommy Wallbank (Athletics – Long Distance Runner) and Caden Tanti (Football) – February
Swieqi Phoenix Handball Club’s U15 and U17 Girls’ Teams (Handball) and Philippa Busuttil (Gymnastics) – March
Jake Azzopardi (Kickboxing) and Kayden Laganà (Bowling) – April
Swieqi Phoenix Volleyball U15 Team and Sophie St John (Gymnastics) – May
Xavier Rizzo (Snooker) and Blake Theuma Dougall (Kickboxing) – June
Nicolai Mallia (Bowling) and Matthew Galea Soler (Athletics) – July
Jake Castaldi (Snooker) and Malta’s Men U18 Water Polo Team – August
Matthew Portelli (Chess) and Malta’s Men U18 Pool Team (Pool) – September
Għaxaq Boċċi Club Under 18 Team and Ryan Muscat (Triathlon) – October
Rylee Borg (Weightlifting) and Kimi Bugeja (Karting) – November
Jenna Awad Attia (Karate) and Hibernians Basketball Girls U16 (Basketball) – December