Team Malta has struck its first gold at the 2025 Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE) in Andorra, with 19-year-old Jessica Vella securing the nation’s first top podium finish in the Karate Kata event. Vella delivered a commanding performance from start to finish, topping her group and going on to claim a well-deserved victory in the final. The Kata competition saw Vella drawn in Group B, competing  against Liechtenstein athlete Aileen Sprenger achieving 37.8 points against Sprenger’s 33.8 points. Vella showed consistency in her second match, taking the win over Monaco’s Cecille Orrigo 37.3-32.7. Securing a place in the semi-finals Andorra’s Maria Ubiergo, Vella once again took the win with a score of 38.4-36.8. In the gold medal final, Vella was up against Mila Mrakovic, of Montenegro, edging out Mrakovic to a score of 39.1-37. Her achievement marks a historic moment for Malta, as Karate makes its debut at the GSSE and delivers immediate success for the national team. Image Credit: Matthias Brancaleone