A schoolboy who jetted off to Bangkok to represent his country on the world stage has brought home the gold in memory of his uncle.
Nathaniel Wilson, 15, from West Derby, won the top prize in the 57KG category at the World Muay Thai Federation (WMF) World Finals last week after dominating in fights against France, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The West Derby High School pupil had vowed to compete in the championships for his uncle, Kevin Shelbourne, who took his own life on December 24.
His mum Jenny said: "He came out of the ring of his final fight and he said 'I told you I would do it for my uncle Kevin'. I'm so proud of him, and he went to a temple and said a blessing for him. Kevin would be absolutely over the moon. He was probably Nathaniel's number one fan."
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Nathaniel was among five people from the Alliance Mauy Thai training centre in Old Swan representing Team GB. Dan Fardy, Olivia Sinnott and Joel Thompson all took home gold medals in their own categories, and Mark Foran took home silver.
In total, Team GB won 11 gold medals, one silver and one bronze.
Jenny, 46, said: "I'm so pleased for them. They've all worked so hard. On the run-up to this competition I think they were in at least six days a week, and it would be several times a day. They were doing 6am training, personal training sessions with Thai trainers, and the normal classes they would attend anyway, so they put an awful lot of effort into it.
"They all do it to keep fit, for the challenge, and it's a huge matter of respect. They're all friends, there's no ego there. They all support each other 100%."
Muay Thai, sometimes called Thai boxing, is known as the "art of eight limbs", which sees fighters use a combination of fists, elbows, knees and shins to overpower their opponent.
Jenny said: "I'm so glad Nathaniel's wish, his dream, has come true. He's fought in the homeland of his favourite sport. He eats, drinks and sleeps Muay Thai. He's all about Muay Thai all the time."
She added: "Nathan just wants to continue as he is; it's his sport but it's not going to be his life. He'd like to go into medicine someday, but he would love to go back to fight again in Thailand someday."
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