Keanna wins gold at WBC Muay Thai World Championships
TWELVE- year old Keanna Carrick, a student at King James I Academy in Bishop Auckland, has
returned from Italy with a gold medal and a world title following her victory at the Muay Thai World
Championships.
Coundon born Keanna began her sporting career at the age of just six when she joined her local
Mixed Martial Arts club and three years later, she switched to Thai Boxing as she was keen to enter
competition fighting. Now, she trains regularly at Legions Gym in York and is looking forward to
taking part in as many competitions as possible.
In the World Championships final, which took place at the AGSM AIM Stadium in Verona, Keanna
fought against an Italian opponent, and despite being at a distinct disadvantage in terms of height,
she fought three rounds and won them all to claim the title. Over 80 countries were represented at
the event and Team England won Team of the Tournament with the most wins and medals overall.
This wasn’t Keanna’s first competition title; earlier this year she also won the Amateur Muay Thai
World Open in Great Yarmouth.
Kianna said, “I love the discipline of Muay Thai and the traditions of respect for teachers,
opponents and the sport itself. Being in the ring is exhilarating, but there’s also a great sense of
belonging when you are a member of a Muay Thai club. It’s a worldwide sport, and at tournaments
competitors all have a common bond.”
Muay Thai, a martial art and combat sport originating from Thailand, is known as the ‘art of eight
limbs’ due to the use of fists, feet, elbows and knees as offensive weapons.
