Gateshead teenager wins gold medal at European Mixed Martial Arts Championships

A 15-year-old boy celebrates after winning a gold medal at the European Taekwondo Championships.

Jay Pringle, from Marley Hill, Gateshead, won the junior, under 50kg, 15-17 age category at the competition in Lublin, Poland.

The competition, held from April 18th to 21st, follows Jay's bronze medal in the pre-junior category for athletes aged 12 to 14 to be held in Finland in September 2023. It became.

“I really didn't expect to win,” said Jay, who just moved up one age category.

“Of course I've been training hard, but I'm really happy,” he said.

“I haven't really thought about competing in the Olympics, but it's definitely something I should think about in the future.”

His mother, Katherine Pringle, said she was “very emotional” after watching her son win.

“When I saw him stand on the podium and heard the national anthem, I was speechless,” she said.

“It's been a huge effort, he's training five to six days a week and our weekends are taken up with domestic training, but it's all been worth it,” she added. .

Jay's next step will be to compete in the World Cup in Argentina this November, but Pringle said it would be “financially difficult”. Her hope now is that Jay will find a sponsor.

“Jay has great potential,” she added.