Cheadle Hulme Sixth Form is delighted to share that Rory, an Elite Pathway student in Year 13, has been crowned Junior Men’s Kickboxing World Champion 2024!
Rory accomplished this remarkable achievement when he represented Team GB in the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO) Junior World Kickboxing Championships held in Budapest, Hungary.
Rory is a Year 13 student at Cheadle Hulme Sixth Form (CHSF), where he is currently studying three A Levels.
He has been enrolled on the Elite Pathway since its inception and has received support in balancing his academic studies with his rigorous training regime, club and international competitive commitments.
Through the Elite Pathway, the student athlete has had multiple trips to Loughborough University and aspires to continue his studies there after Sixth Form.
Rory’s sport is kickboxing, which sees him competing on the tatami in points fighting, continuous fighting and kick light.
Despite only just turning 17, Rory competes in the Junior Men’s division which is for competitors aged under 19.
He fights under WAKO, the most prestigious governing body within the sport, and is a member of Team Energize Apex and Team GB.
Rory competes internationally for club and country at the highest level, and in this year alone, he has retained his three British titles at the British Championships.
His talent has taken him to competitions across the globe, where he has enjoyed success at European Kickboxing Cups in Istanbul, Athens, Amsterdam, and Flanders, where he won nine gold medals.
At Kickboxing World Cup events in Hungary and Italy, he won an unprecedented seven golds as well as taking the Junior Men’s Open Weight titles at both competitions.
His success led to his inevitable selection to represent Great Britain at the 2024 World Championship Games in Budapest, a prestigious bi-annual event sanctioned by the IOC.
At the World Championship Games, Rory was joined by 3500 athletes from 68 nations all competing at the highest level. He fought three times a day over six days to secure a place in the finals day.
Rory proudly left Budapest as Junior Men’s Kickboxing World Champion in points fighting and Junior Men’s Kickboxing World Champion in continuous fighting.
He will retain these titles until 2026, when he will progress into Senior Men’s/Professional divisions.
Rory is now the best Junior Men’s tatami fighter in the world, an incredible accomplishment for the young athlete.
Ed Haslam, Director of Sporting Excellence for the Laurus Trust, said:
“Impressive is an understatement! We are incredibly proud of Rory’s amazing achievement in becoming the Junior Men’s Kickboxing World Champion. His dedication, hard work, and talent are truly inspiring. The Elite Pathway is committed to providing students like Rory with the opportunities and support they need to excel both academically and athletically. We look forward to seeing him continue to achieve great things in the future.”
The Elite Pathway is a Laurus Trust programme in partnership with Loughborough University which provides the guidance for aspirational athletes to achieve their academic potential and sporting dreams. Student-athletes develop a holistic understanding of the contributing factors of elite sport, which include balancing the demands of sporting excellence and academic success.