THE DETERMINED II: THE COACHES
Gibraltar has long been home to a passionate sporting community, with local athletes excelling on national and international stages. Behind every great athlete stands a dedicated coach, mentors who devote their time, expertise, and energy to shaping the future of sports in Gibraltar.
In this new series, The Determined II: The Coaches, GIBFIBRE shines a spotlight on these often unsung heroes. Through a series of inspiring short films, we explore the dedication, philosophies, and personal journeys of local sports coaches who have played a crucial role in developing talent and fostering a love for sports. From rowing to dance, each story showcases the impact of coaching on individuals and the wider community.
001 Leslie Grech MBE - Rowing
Our first episode of The Determined II is now live, featuring Gibraltar’s rowing icon, Leslie Grech MBE! With over 40 years of dedication, Leslie has shaped champions, led athletes to gold, and inspired generations. 🏅🌍
002 Yalta Pons - Dance
We’re proud to spotlight Yalta Pons, an award-winning dance teacher, international judge, and choreographer breaking stereotypes and shaping Gibraltar’s dance scene. From coaching champions to winning on the world stage, Yalta’s dedication and passion continue to inspire future generations.
003 Kriss & Evan Montegriffo - Boxing
From personal battles to building champions – Kriss & Evan found strength through boxing and now give back as coaches, mentoring the next generation with discipline, respect, and heart. Watch Episode 3 now and see how they’re changing lives through the ring. 💥
004 Janice Moreno - Netball
Janice Moreno, a dedicated netball coach who is shaping Gibraltar’s future stars. As the newly appointed Head Coach for the U21 squad at the Netball World Youth Cup, Janice is leading the next generation of athletes with passion, determination, and a winning mindset.
005 Jerry Aguilera - Paddle
From football pitches to padel courts, Jerry Aguilera has dedicated over 30 years to coaching with heart, skill, and relentless determination. A decorated athlete and certified coach, Jerry has been instrumental in developing padel in Gibraltar, mentoring athletes, winning tournaments, and growing the game he loves.
006 Damina Chang Chipolina- Swimming
From breaking waves to breaking records, Damina’s journey in swimming spans decades – first as an athlete, now as a leading national coach. With her athletes setting new records and winning gold on the international stage, Damina has become a driving force behind Gibraltar’s rise in competitive swimming.
THE DETERMINED: THE ATHLETES
GIBFIBRE have recently concluded their series of short films on local athletes titled “the Determined”. It followed some of the better-known sporting names around Gibraltar, and shone a light on their triumphs, goals and determination.
Gibraltar and its residents have always had a strong bond with sport. For years Gibraltarian’s have outperformed expectations and held their own on the world stage.
Crossing sporting lines and seeking unique talent and covering a wide variety of local sports men and women, the visually appealing series delved into their routines and accomplishments and gained a unique insight into their chosen sporting disciplines.
001 Robert Matto – Triathlon
The first film was released on the 1st January 2022 and reflected on the life of Ironman gold medallist triathlete Robert Matto and his goal of Commonwealth Games 2022 qualification.
002 Emma Labrador – Volleyball
This was followed by Episode 002 featuring Emma Labrador, the Vice chairman of European Volleyball. The short film followed her daily routine and intense work schedule both in the gym and on the sand.
003 Shania Robba – Football
The 3rd edition of ‘The Determined’ starred the Gibraltar Sportsperson of the Year 2021 and rising football star, Shania Robba. You can get a glimpse of one of her training sessions with the GFA and gain an insight into her intense schedule!
004 Nathan Payas – Open Water Swimming
Next up in Episode 4, was local open water swimmer Nathan Payas with an accolade of incredible achievements and an insight into the intricate nature of his chosen sport as the clip follows him deep into the treacherous waters of the straits of Gibraltar.
005 Mark Lett – Cycling
‘The Determined’ Episode 5 featured Gibraltar’s very own rocket on wheels Mark Lett.
We followed him on a dawn training session and learned about his many achievements on both water and land as he explained his transition from rowing into cycling.
006 Kylie Gaivizo – Rhythmic Gymnastic
Episode 6 featured Gibraltar’s very own rhythmic gymnast, Kylie Gaivizo. She elegantly demonstrated her training routine while sharing her inspirations, dreams and intense commonwealth games training schedule.
007 Richard Blagg – Long Distance Running
Episode 007 of ‘The Determined’ we follow local long distance runner Richard Blagg on one of his morning training sessions around and up the rock.
008 Colin Tester – Rowing
In the final episode 8 of the ‘The Determined’ series, we followed avid athlete and multi-disciplined rower Colin Tester. We caught up with him at his local rowing club and head out into the straits for some thrilling open water action!
Closing event
The conclusion of the GIBFIBRE series ‘The Determined’ was celebrated on the 20th September 2022. There was a great turnout at The Queen’s Picturehouse & Eatery where we showcased all the short movies at their cinema.
The Determined has been an amazing success with over 200,000 views online, we would like to thank the 8 athletes who made the campaign possible. When coming up with a concept for the campaign, we wanted to highlight GIBFIBRE’s core value: DETERMINED to be the best you can be!
We feel the 8 chosen athletes’ excellence and determination to succeed in their sports has exemplified this very well..
GIBFIBRE is also keen in supporting the local community and sponsored each athlete with £250 which will be used to improve their respective sports or donated to charity.
During the filming we have been amazed by the achievements of the 8 athletes and only hope we have inspired others to reach their goals and be the best they can be in life and sport.
THE DETERMINED SPOTLIGHT
Follow Tyrone Buttigieg’s incredible story.
Watch his journey of pure grit and determination in our short film, dedicated to The Determined. From the ring to resilience, witness the sheer perseverance and glory of this determined boxer’s pursuit of greatness.
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