Nathan Mifsud’s recruitment marks a step forward for Para Taekwondo in Malta
Teenager Nathan Mifsud has joined Iron Taekwondo League to begin his development in Para Taekwondo, following an introductory training session organised by the Malta Taekwondo Association under the auspices of the Malta Paralympic Committee (MPC).
During his introductory session, Nathan took part alongside two accomplished figures in Maltese Para sport — Para indoor rowing champion Justin John Camilleri and Tokyo Paralympian Thomas Borg — who joined the training for a taster of Taekwondo.
For Nathan, that first experience has become an ongoing sporting commitment. His recruitment represents an encouraging development in the Association’s efforts to introduce potential para-athletes to Taekwondo and provide opportunities for sustained participation.
The session forms part of Malta’s work following the first partner meeting of DUAL KICK: Beyond Limits in Sport & Career, held in Ankara last July. Since that meeting, the Malta Taekwondo Association has begun putting the project’s inclusive ambitions into practice, bringing experienced Para sportspeople and emerging talent onto the training floor.
Established athletes try a new discipline
The participation of Camilleri and Borg brought together two sportspeople whose achievements span different disciplines. Both joined the session to experience Taekwondo, lending their support to an initiative aimed at widening access to the sport.
Justin John Camilleri has established an impressive record in Para indoor rowing. Representing Siġġiewi Rowing Club, he won three gold medals in the IAR3 Para Rowing Men’s Open category at the 2025 British Rowing Indoor Championships in Birmingham.
According to the Malta Paralympic Committee, Camilleri also established three world records in his age category at the competition. He completed the 2,000 metres in 7:33.6, covered 1,075 metres in four minutes, and recorded 330 metres in the one-minute sprint.
Further success followed in 2026, when he secured world indoor rowing titles in the IAR3 men’s one-minute and 1,000-metre events.
Camilleri’s background also extends beyond competitive sport. His professional experience spans manufacturing, service industries, business development and senior management. He holds an Executive MBA from Henley Business School at the University of Reading and is listed among the faculty at Knights. His combination of sporting achievement, education and professional experience connects closely with DUAL KICK’s emphasis on supporting athletes in different areas of their lives.
Thomas Borg, meanwhile, represented Malta at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, held in 2021, competing in the men’s T47 100-metre and 400-metre events.
Before his Paralympic athletics appearance, Borg had already represented Malta internationally in swimming. He competed at the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships in London, taking part in freestyle, breaststroke and individual medley events.
His sporting journey began with football before progressing to swimming and subsequently athletics. An injury interrupted his swimming ambitions, prompting him to redirect his training towards sprinting and ultimately represent Malta on the Paralympic track.
Borg’s experience also illustrates the relationship between sport and education. While preparing for Tokyo, he was studying for a degree in Sport and Physical Activity at the University of Malta, supported through its Student Athlete Support Programme.
He has also contributed to inclusive sporting provision through coaching. MPC’s 2023 annual report records his delivery of strength, conditioning and general fitness sessions for Siġġiewi Rowing Club members, welcoming both Para athletes and athletes without disabilities.
Their willingness to try Taekwondo brought experience from other sporting environments into the session, while Nathan’s subsequent decision to continue training provided a tangible outcome for the Association’s development work.
The DUAL KICK partnership
DUAL KICK: Beyond Limits in Sport & Career is an international Erasmus+ project coordinated by the Turkish Taekwondo Federation, in partnership with the Italian Taekwondo Federation and the Malta Taekwondo Association.
The project was awarded €60,000 through the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme, under the Small-scale Partnerships in Youth action, KA210-YOU.
Its central purpose is to support young people with disabilities in pursuing sport alongside education and professional development. This approach, commonly described as a dual career, seeks to help athletes maintain their sporting ambitions while continuing their studies and preparing for working life.
The first partner meeting in Ankara brought representatives together to discuss the project’s objectives, intended outputs, organisational responsibilities, management arrangements and budget planning.
Malta was represented by Malta Taekwondo Association President Anna Vassallo, Michelle Chircop and national team coach Gianluca Barbara. Following the meeting, the international delegation visited the Nur Tatar Sports Hall, where members met Türkiye’s national Para Taekwondo team during its training camp.
The partnership combines international cooperation with practical work in each participating country. Malta’s contribution includes joint activities and the exchange of experience with its Turkish and Italian partners.
The next summit will take place in Malta on the 4th December, during which time, the Association will welcome delegations from Italy and Turkiye.
Resources for athletes, coaches and mentors
DUAL KICK’s planned educational work includes three training modules addressing dual careers and time management, inclusive sport guidance for coaches and mentors, and academic and professional integration.
Materials are being prepared in Turkish, English and Italian, enabling the participating organisations to share knowledge across national boundaries.
A digital platform is also being developed to bring together training materials, project documents, interviews, examples of good practice and athlete experiences. The planned resources are intended to be freely accessible without membership or registration and to remain useful beyond the project itself.
These resources aim to strengthen the support surrounding athletes, recognising the role coaches and mentors can play in helping them manage training, education and future career decisions.
Building on Nathan’s first steps
For the Malta Taekwondo Association, the taster session demonstrates how an international partnership can create opportunities locally.
Working under the auspices of MPC, the Association brought together established Para sportspeople and a young newcomer to explore Taekwondo. Nathan’s subsequent recruitment by Iron Taekwondo League has carried that activity forward into regular training.
His development remains at an early stage, but continued participation is a meaningful first step. It provides a foundation on which to build his skills and explore his potential in Para Taekwondo.
As Malta’s involvement in DUAL KICK progresses, the task is to build on these beginnings: introducing more people to the discipline, supporting those who choose to continue, and connecting sporting development with education, personal growth and future opportunities.
We’re not stopping here!
The Association is currently looking for more potential para-athletes willing to start their taekwondo journey. If you fit the bill and are willing to try a new sport, contact info@maltataekwondo.org.mt
References
Turkish Taekwondo Federation. DUAL KICK: Beyond Limits in Sport & Career — official project overview.
Turkish Taekwondo Federation. Official project account, Ankara kick-off meeting and participating representatives.
Turkish Taekwondo Federation. Announcement of Erasmus+ funding awards, 25 August 2025.
Turkish National Agency. 2025 Erasmus+ KA210-YOU approved projects and grant awards.
Turkish Taekwondo Federation. Malta’s partnership role and planned digital library and resources.
Malta Paralympic Committee. Malta’s results at the 2025 British Rowing Indoor Championships.
Justin John Camilleri. Personal announcement of IAR3 world indoor rowing titles.
Knights. Justin John Camilleri — faculty and professional profile.
International Paralympic Committee. Thomas Borg — international competition record.
Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Thomas Borg — athlete and batonbearer profile.
University of Malta. University student representing Malta in Paralympics Tokyo 2020, 18 August 2021.
Malta Paralympic Committee. 2023 annual report extract — inclusive training delivered by Thomas Borg.
