International success for Maltese bodybuilders

Joe Dimech, former MABA president, writes:

With reference to the report on the IFBB Mediterranean Championships (The Times, November 3), which gave the impression that this was the first time that local bodybuilders competed successfully in international competition, I would like to point out some facts.

Armando Buttigieg and Harold Bonsfield both obtained high placings in their successful careers.

In 1977, Buttigieg won the first ever bronze medal for Malta when finishing third, out of 32 competitors, in the European Championships which were held in Nimes, France. On that occasion, he also placed 10th out of 40 bodybuilders in the World Championships.

In 1973, in Geneva, Switzerland, Buttigieg was sixth out of 27 competitors in the European Championships and eighth among 34 participants in the World Championships.

In 1975, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Buttigieg placed sixth out of 16 competitors in the World Championships. Five years later, he was classified seventh in the Europeans which were held in Belgium.

In the 1989 Mediterranean Championships, held in Malta, Buttigieg was part of the Maltese team that obtained third place from 13 countries in the team championships. He also managed a fifth place from 10 participants in the individual competition. Another success in the Mediterranean Championships was a fourth place in Piacenza, Italy.

In a short competitive career, Bonsfield won his category in the 1972 Mediterranean Championships which took place in Italy. He also came fourth in both the European and World Championships in 1973.

These results were achieved in competitions featuring some of the best bodybuilders in the world.

This clearly shows that success for local bodybuilding did not start two years ago but is the result of 45 years of hard work, dedication and perseverance from my part and others who stood by my side even when the going was tough.