WHETHER it\u2019s striking the pads, running laps, or doing cardio, Sam Kay\u2019s boosting his fitness at each workout in the build-up to next month\u2019s World Youth Boxing Championships in Spain.<\/p>\n
The Bendigo teenager struck gold in the under-19, 51-kilogram division at this year\u2019s national titles in Melbourne and has earned a place in Australia\u2019s team to compete in Alicante from 13 to 27 November.<\/p>\n
In the lead-up to his first shot at a world title, Kay has earned a scholarship in Bendigo\u2019s Sports Star of the Year awards.<\/p>\n
As a scholarship recipient, the 16-year-old is in the running for the Cyril Michelsen Trust Fund to be announced next February.<\/p>\n
For now, the focus for Kay and trainer Danniel Burton, aka Boone, is the worlds.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s been lots of roadwork, hitting the pads, and cardio in recent weeks,\u201d Kay said. \u201cThe goal is to lift the intensity each session.<\/p>\n
For a contest lasting a maximum of nine minutes, Kay puts in hundreds of hours in training.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have been doing five-kilometre runs on the road at least three times a week, and there\u2019s also trackwork of 800-metre distances at least five times,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Boxing is more than throwing a hook, landing a jab, and avoiding being hit to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoxing has helped lift my confidence and discipline. I have also been able to travel to many places in Australia to compete, or train,\u201d Kay said.<\/p>\n
He took up boxing in 2018 and a year later won silver at the nationals. The pandemic meant no championships in 2020 or 2021.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose two years were really difficult. Coach Boon played a massive part in helping me stay motivated to train. There were quite a lot of Zoom calls,\u201d Kay said.<\/p>\n
The Girton Grammar student will be at the Australian Institute of Sport from 5 November for a five-day training camp before making his way to Spain.<\/p>\n
The Cyril Michelsen Trust Fund was first awarded in 1982-83 to athlete Malcolm Norwood.<\/p>\n
The award honour board includes boxers Scott and Lynden Hosking, and Jared Kum Too.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
WHETHER it\u2019s striking the pads, running laps, or doing cardio, Sam Kay\u2019s boosting his fitness at each workout in the build-up to next month\u2019s World Youth Boxing Championships in Spain. The Bendigo teenager struck gold in the under-19, 51-kilogram division at this year\u2019s national titles in Melbourne and has earned a place in Australia\u2019s team […]<\/p>\n