Italy's Andrea Presti takes top honours at the 2017 IFBB Diamond Cup - Malta

Malta's Antoine Zerafa wins gold in bodybuilding over 50 class

(L-R) IFBB President Rafael Santonja, Andra Presti and Pawel Filleborn
(L-R) IFBB President Rafael Santonja, Andra Presti and Pawel Filleborn

IFBB Malta organised the 2017 IFBB Diamond Cup at the Hilton hotel, bringing the famous international competition to the Maltese islands.

Over 280 international competitors travelled to Malta to try to win one of seven IFBB Pro cards in various categories.

Maltese competitors also took part in this event with some of them having great success.

The overall bodybuilding title was won by Italy's Andrea Presti. The over 100kg bodybuilder dominated the overall class to walk away with the title and IFBB Pro card.

Malta's athletes managed to achieve some prescious results.

Veteran bodybuilder Antoine Zerafa won the Gold medal in the bodybuilding over 50 class while John Xuereb placed third.

Konrad Fenech placed third in the Men's Physique Up To 174cm class while Gianni Grima finished tenth and Mattia Pandolfi finished in 13th.

Axel Mallia placed fifth from 10 competitors in the Junior Men's Physique Open.

Mandy Saliba placed third in the Junior Women's Bikini-Fitness Open.

Sabrina Micallef placed 18 in a deep line-up of copmpetitors in the Master Women's Bikini-Fitness Open.

Another veteran bodybuilder, Stephen Bonsfield placed in eighth position in the Master Men's Bodybuilding 40-49 years open.

Malta's Bader Miloudi placed seventh in the Men's Classic Bodybuilding Up to 180cm.

Jurijus Kolomickis placed tenth in the Men's Physique Up To 178cm class.

Antoine Zerafa poses after winning the gold medal
Antoine Zerafa poses after winning the gold medal

In the Women's Bodyfitness Up to 163cm Chantal Graziani placed fourth, Katya Vella fifth and Jannit Zammit ninth.

Women's Bikini-Fitness Up to 160cm had Mandy Saliba finish 11th and Sabrina Micallef finish 12th.

Kim Zahra placed 14th in the Women's Bikini-Fitness Up To 166cm class.

Kenneth Bellizzi placed 14th in the Men's Physique Up To 170cm class.

Krystle Tonna finished 12th in the Women's Bikini-Fitness Up To 172cm class.

James Cassar finished fifth in the Men's Bodybuilding Up To 75kg class while Lawrence Zammit placed seventh.

Stephen Bonsfield finished seventh in the Men's Bodybuilding Up To 80kg class.

Antoine Zerafa after winning the gold medal earlier in the day placed sixth in the Men's Bodybuilding Up to 85kg class.

A detailed list of the full results and photos can be viewed on www.evolutionofbodybuilding.net.

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