BARNSLEY’S Bowen brothers returned from the three-day World Kickboxing Championship in Vienna with four medals.
Taylor, 14, won two golds and Harvey, 15, two silvers.
The boys train at The Combat Academy under Mick Crossland who led the England squad including a team of 18 from his Barnsley gym to the Austrian capital.
Their mum Emma Bowen said: “Our sons and all the other competitors came home exhausted having had an amazing time.
“They’re proud to have done so well but have also made new friends including from other teams.
“Kickboxing is their passion.
“They’ve have been training with Mick for six years and this was their third time representing Team England with previous championships in Turkey and Germany.
“They both hold British kickboxing titles and Taylor is now a world champion with ISKA, who organised the Vienna tournament.”
Sonny Greaves, a 20-year-old from Darfield, won a gold and bronze and is now preparing to compete for the European title later in the month.
He said: “It was a tough competition which saw me have seven bouts in Vienna, winning six against kickboxers from six European countries.”
In total, the club won 33 medals including twelve golds and 11 silvers out of a national haul of 98 medals which put the England team in overall third place.
Crossland said: “Ours was the largest contingent in Team England and Combat Academy fighters absolutely shone.
“To say it was a proud moment is an understatement with the tournament being one of the largest and most intense I’ve ever attended and competitors having four bouts to reach gold.
“Our fighters demonstrated outstanding skill and courage amongst such a previously unmatched depth of international talent.
“Competing against some of the world’s best kickboxers enabled our fighters to reach new heights as they showed resilience, discipline, and skill – the qualities that make champions.”
Parents of Combat Academy competitors formed ‘Kicking4Change’ to fundraise for the Vienna trip.
Crossland said: “Their efforts supported every team member and without them none of it would have been possible.
“We’re so grateful for their hard work and sacrifices and to our company sponsors for their financial support.
“Many thanks therefore to H Phase Electrical, Milk from the Hills, Lou Botham Training and Maersk.”
The club are next due to make an overseas trip to Australia’s Gold Coast.
Potential sponsors for 2025 and anyone interested in starting kickboxing training can email thecombatacademy.org.uk or call 07927 134366 or search for The Combat Academy on Facebook.
