Thailand, November/December 2007
Silver medal for Cook
Cooktown’s Clayton Cook was one of only three Australians to return from the muay thai world championships with a medal.
The 17 year old Full Boar Thai Boxing Club fighter won a silver medal for his country in the championships, held in Bangkok, Thailand.
Cook and fellow club members Joel Mitchell, Courtney Bird and myself, along with trainer Vince Parkes, spent the past two weeks in Thailand at the championships, returning on Friday.
Cook had an easy entry into the medal spot, after his first opponent, from India, gave up in the opening seconds.
His second fight, against a Russian, was a hard match, but Cook had the advantage as his opponent had not had an easy first fight and was already worn out.
This win ensured the Cooktown teenager a medal, and his next fight would determine whether it was silver or gold.
With only seven fights to his name, Cook was already among the most inexperienced competitors in the championships, and his opponent in the final fight was a hardened former street kid from the Ukraine, who had more than 40 fights under his belt.
Every member of the notoriously tough Ukrainian team had been rescued from the streets, and thai boxing was now a way of life for them.
As one Aussie team member said, “just like we play football every Saturday, the Ukrainians fight every Saturday”.
Cook was going toe to toe with his opponent until a kick landed on his wounded shin and the referee spotted his weakness, and quickly called off the fight.
The referees were very strict, and the slightest show of weakness could land a fighter with an instant loss, as happened in Cook’s case.
Cook wasn’t the only Aussie to suffer the referees’ firm rulings, with another fight called off in the opening round because the Australian fighter briefly turned her back on her opponent.
But far from being discouraged, Cook has returned home vowing to train harder, fight more and get tougher, ready to return to the 2008 world championships in Busan, Korea.
Mitchell – who was beaten in his first fight by a Ukrainian, who went on to win the gold medal in his weight division – also plans to head to Korea to try for the medals again.
We have also all vowed not to touch rice for several months, after living off the white stuff for the entire two weeks we were away.
The Thais serve it up for breakfast, lunch and tea, with different stir-fry toppings and dubious looking meats.
Since I have been back, I have been re-acquainting myself with good Aussie food, like hot chips, steaks and salad.
Although we all had a ball, it is definitely good to be home.
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