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Meet the Team – Yazmin Stevens

Yazmin Stevens, an Olympic Weightlifter

From weightlifting club to Olympics in five years – how Yazmin Stevens became Malta’s first female weightlifting Olympian

PhD ambassador Yazmin Stevens is the definition of a record-breaker. She didn’t learn how to Oly lift until her final year at Uni, and a few years later she was representing her country at the Olympic Games.

We asked her what it’s like to go to the Europeans, Commonwealths and Olympics in the first few years of taking up a sport. This interview will make you want to stop what you’re doing and pick up a barbell!

Read Yaz’s full interview here – she’s the weightlifter to watch.

#meetteamphd

When the athletes paraded around the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympic Games, Malta had one of the smallest teams. One of the five athletes was Yazmin Zammit Stevens, Malta’s first-ever female weightlifting Olympian.

We caught up with Yaz to talk about her rapid rise to the Olympics, what it’s like to represent a small country, and what the future holds.

PhD: Hi Yaz, how does it feel to have such a high profile representing a small country and a pretty niche sport? Are you something of a national treasure in Malta?

YZS: Something like that! The day I competed at the Olympic Games, apparently the whole country stopped and watched me lift. It’s an amazing feeling when you come from such a small place.

PhD: That must have felt like a big challenge?

YZS: A bit, but I’m used to challenges! I grew up with the backdrop of some restrictive cultural views about what women should be and can’t do. I’ve got a positive mindset, so even though my mental and physical health had taken a dip, I had the drive in me to go out and get it done.

PhD: Were you a sporty kid?

YZS: Yes, I probably did every sports club there was in Malta! I remember winning a race in junior school and feeling like that was what I wanted to do. I did gymnastics and athletics until I was 18 then sports took a back seat when I went to University.

PhD: Can you remember when you first started lifting weights?

YZS: Absolutely! It was in my final year at Uni. I was sick of sitting around, and joined a gym with one of my friends. They offered weightlifting sessions as well as everything else. Before long the coach realised I was only showing up for the weightlifting.

PhD: So that coach suggested you focus on Oly lifting?

YZS: I guess he could see I was enthusiastic, and had some raw talent, even though I didn’t really know weightlifting was a sport. He introduced me to Jesmond Caruana, Malta’s national team coach. And it went from there.

PhD: Wow, that’s a fast start!

YZS: Don’t forget, Malta is a really tiny island. Everyone knows everyone within individual sports.

PhD: What happened when you met the national team coach?

YZS: There were no other girls training in weightlifting at the time. Until then, Malta had never been able to truly participate in team events. The coach was excited to find someone who took it seriously.

PhD: And in the first year you’d achieved some incredible things.

YZS: Yes, in the first 6 months I had broken the national snatch record in the 69kg weight class, and within a year I’d competed at the European Weightlifting Championships. I was Malta’s first female athlete to ever go to that event.

PhD: Europeans in 2017, Worlds and Commonwealth Games in 2018, and the Olympic Games in 2021. All within 5 years of learning the Oly lifts. Not bad.

YZS: Thanks, it’s been pretty full on!

PhD: What do you think was key to your rapid success?

YZS: There are internal things and a lot of external factors. I always wanted to be an athlete, but I tried to push it to the back of my mind. So when I found weightlifting and was introduced to the national coach, I started to believe I could make it.

PhD: What do you think was key to your rapid success?

YZS: There are internal things and a lot of external factors. I always wanted to be an athlete, but I tried to push it to the back of my mind. So when I found weightlifting and was introduced to the national coach, I started to believe I could make it.

My family were incredibly supportive too. My Dad suggested I take a year off to give it a go. He said if you don’t try, you’ll ever know, but said I had to be all-in. So I was always the first to show up to training and the last to leave.

PhD: Your Dad sounds like a big influence.

YZS: He really is. He does marathons and Ironman triathlons. He understands the drive to succeed. Both my parents supported me from the start, I’m very lucky.


Smiling woman with nose ring and scarf

“I’m incredibly proud to be Maltese, and I’m proud to be a female weightlifter too. It feels amazing to raise the profile of my sport and compete for my country.”

PhD: How does it feel to put weightlifting on the map for Malta?


Woman in workout attire posing like she is flying outside

“There’s something special about coming from a small island and standing shoulder to shoulder with larger countries.”

YZS: I’m incredibly proud to be Maltese, and I’m proud to be a female weightlifter too. There’s something special about coming from a small island and standing shoulder to shoulder with larger countries. It feels amazing to raise the profile of my sport and compete for my country.

PhD: What have you learned about nutrition?


Woman sat on the weights in a gym holding a nutritionally rich confectionary protein bar

“Nutrition is so important in weightlifting. It’s not just about training and competing, you’ve also got to make weight to fit into a class.”

YZS: Nutrition is so important in weightlifting. It’s not just about training and competing, you’ve also got to make weight to fit into a class. I’ve learned what a huge role nutrition plays in performance, sleep, mood, and recovery.

PhD: What are your favourite PhD products?

YZS: I’m obsessed with the salted caramel Smart Plant Protein. I’m not vegan but it’s so easy on my stomach. I drink Life Reset every night to sleep and recover well. And Smart Bars are my go-to dessert, it’s such a tasty way to get extra protein.

PhD: After such a successful start to your lifting career, what’s next?

YZS: I’ve taken some time out to mentally and physically reset, and now I’m back with a new attitude and a new weight class. I’m working with a mental performance coach to change my mindset and behaviours on the platform. I used to get so anxious, and I want to enjoy competing.

PhD: How’s it going?


Yaz Stephens and her friend Gabby Allen in the gym smiling

“Weightlifting teaches you so much about yourself, what’s important, and who to have around you.”

YZS: It’s early days for this new set-up, but I definitely felt the difference at my first competition of the year. This sport teaches you so much about yourself, what’s important, and who to have around you. I’m excited to show up as a more mature, confident athlete.

PhD: Your long-term goal is the 2026 Commonwealth Games. We want to wish you lots of luck – your friends at PhD will be cheering you on.

YZS: Thanks so much. Being a PhD ambassador is a big thing for me, as a tested athlete it’s important to partner with a brand I can trust.