MEET THE TEAM
SHAUN CIANTAR
Co-Founder & Coach
I’ve always needed something physical in my life. I started with football when I was young, but it never really clicked. I moved into conventional gym training, but I still didn’t find my place until I discovered CrossFit. That changed everything. I fell in love with the intensity, the challenge, and the community. I started with classes, then pushed myself into competition both locally and in the UK.
Through CrossFit, I was introduced to Olympic weightlifting and that’s where I truly found my sport. I began competing for the Maltese national team, representing my country in Switzerland, San Marino, Italy, the UK, and Luxembourg. I’ve competed more than six times a year at my peak, winning gold medals in both the UK and Switzerland, and was proud to be part of the winning team at the European Small Nations Championships.
But what I love most about the sport isn’t just the medals. It’s the sportsmanship, the bond between athletes, and the lifelong connections built on the platform. That same passion carries into my coaching.
I’ve coached athletes of all levels, from beginners stepping under a barbell for the first time to competitive lifters chasing podium finishes. I am technical, detailed, and strict. My military background shaped that discipline, but it is always rooted in helping people improve properly and safely. Technique comes first. Always.
There is nothing more rewarding than seeing members hit personal bests, grow in confidence, and realise they are capable of more than they thought. Together with Anton, we have worked relentlessly to build Rebel Yell into a place where hard work, respect, and community go hand in hand.
I have also invested in learning from different environments, completing a CrossFit course in Rome and a specialty kettlebell course in Florence. Training isn’t just something I do. It’s who I am.
ANTON MICALLEF
Co-Founder & Coach
I’ve been involved in sports for over 26 years, starting as a goalkeeper at age 10 and later spending years in martial arts. After a break from training and some weight gain, I spent time in commercial gyms but quickly realized that standard bodybuilding wasn’t for me. I transitioned into functional fitness, which lasted less than a month before I found weightlifting. That discovery changed everything; it has been my obsession and main focus for 10-11 whole years.
My competitive career has taken me across the globe, representing Malta in Spain, Switzerland, San Marino, Monaco, Slovenia, Cyprus, and Luxembourg. I was proud to represent my country on the ultimate stage at the IWF World Championships in Uzbekistan, and I have earned gold at the European Small Nations Championships. From 2021 to 2024, I was named Malta’s Best Weightlifter three years in a row, both in the 81kg category and overall.
I am mostly self-taught. I spent countless hours researching technical cues and tips, obsessed with the details until the mechanics finally clicked. While Rebel Yell is my first official role as a weightlifting coach, I have spent the better part of the last decade helping athletes on the platform. Whether it was a technical fix for a heavy snatch or a mental strategy for competition day, I have always found myself helping others master the fundamentals of the barbell.
I am a British Weightlifting Level 2 coach, but more importantly, I built Rebel Yell to bring that world-class technical precision to everyday people. I believe in structured, purposeful training without the fluff. Whether you are just starting out or looking to sharpen your technical edge, I am here to help you get the work done.