Muay Thai success for Charlie

Last weekend, Charlie was crowned T7 European Champion and UK number one in the light cruiserweight division following a victory over Charlie Sikwa in Poole, marking a significant milestone in his competitive career.

Alongside his intensive training schedule, Charlie has been supported through Solent’s Sport Excellence Programme, benefiting from access to elite facilities, tailored strength and conditioning provision, sports therapy and wraparound support designed to help athletes balance high level performance with academic study.

Reflecting on his achievement, Charlie said:

“After last year’s stoppage loss, I rebuilt from scratch, won a British title, then five weeks later beat a two‑time world champion and became UK No.1 despite illness, weight cut and barely any preparation. I gained a lot of confidence from these results and managing it alongside my first year of university. The biggest lesson was separating my identity from fighting alone. Mentally switching on only when it was time to compete helped me stay composed and deliver under pressure.”

In his role as Manager of the Sport Excellence Programme, Iain Molyneux oversees a team of practitioners in supporting and preparing the athletes on the Sport Excellence Programme. He added:

“Charlie’s achievement is a fantastic example of what can be accomplished when talent, determination and the right support come together. Our Sport Excellence Programme is designed to help students perform at their best, both competitively and academically, and it’s inspiring to see Charlie excel on the national stage while progressing through his degree.”

Charlie is not the only Solent student making their mark in elite sport. Fellow students Niamh Tsang and Joana Ramalho Varanda recently represented their teams at the World Cheerleading Championships in Florida, competing against some of the best squads in the world.

Niamh competed as part of Hail, while Joana represented C6, with both athletes supported to attend the championships through the Turing Fund.

Introduced by the UK government to replace the Erasmus+ programme, the Turing Fund supports international study and mobility opportunities for students, with additional funding available to help under resourced students cover travel and associated costs.

Southampton Solent University continues to support students in achieving excellence on and off the field, providing opportunities to represent the University, compete at the highest levels and gain invaluable experiences alongside their studies.