After plenty of hard work Connor Gillen from Crestmead is a young bloke with the world at his feet.
The 17 year old Marsden State High School student was crowned last weekend as Australian under-18 Muay Thai featherweight champion.
Based at Muay Thai Mulisha in Munruben, Connor qualified to compete for the title after his coach, Chris Johnstone, submitted an application based on Connor’s previous history, which included two Australian titles as well at gold and bronze rankings at prestigious events in Thailand.
Connor got into the sport after, at the age of 10, he decided he wanted to spend more time with his dad Nick.
They already went fishing together but that wasn’t enough and because his dad had trained in taekwondo as a youngster and Muay Thai was available at the local PCYC that’s what they chose.
Connor’s coach Chris Johnstone said the young man was hesitant at first but quickly got in the groove.
“He’s still really quiet but he’s dedicated and always puts in 100 per cent,” Mr Johnstone said.
“With his most recent title and the world title he won in Thailand he’s gone as far as he can go as an amateur.
“You have to be 18 to turn professional and when that happens I’m sure he’ll go all the way.”
Mr Johnstone said that won’t happen until Connor is isn his mid-20s, with a bit more experience under his belt.
Top level professional bouts in Thailand and Europe can earn the winner as much as $50,000 with some worth $250,000 and the One Champion titles sometimes have purses as high as $1 million.
Connor trains most days, an hour in the morning plus three in the afternoon and wants to increase that commitment in order to further refine his technique.
He wants to succeed in his sport but success hasn’t gone to his head, with plans to become a personal trainer and he has already lined up someone to take him on as an apprentice electrician.
