Skyla Chatterton, a 15-year-old Territory student who won the bronze medal at last year’s International Federation of Muaythai Associations World Youth Championships, has been kicking her way back to international competition by defeating opponents above her age and weight locally and interstate.

Her fight name is “Full Noise”, a pretty apt description of how she trains and fights. Skyla’s preferred weapons are a left kick and upper-cut elbow.

Training since she was just seven-years-old, Skyla has been selected to the Australian Muay Thai team to represent the country at the championships in Belek, Turkey later this year for the second year in a row.

After winning bronze last year, Skyla knows what she’s up against in international competition, where she will again be taking the Northern Territory to the world Muay Thai’s centre stage, alongside the Man Ho Academy of Martial Arts.

It’s all part of the Territory girl’s dream to one day make it to the Olympics, which she knows will involve a lot of hard work.

“Although I have big dreams and a long journey ahead, I am passionate, determined and committed to achieving my goals and representing my country at the highest levels from now until the ultimate destination, the Olympics in 2032,” she said.

The IFMA World Youth Muay Thai Championships 2023 will be held in Belek, Turkey September 28 to October 8.

All team members must be in Turkey a week before September 29 for team training and familiarization. They would also have to stay until the Championships finish on October 8.

This trip is fully self-funded, which is a lot to come up with in such a short period, Skyla says.

It is always extremely challenging for the Territory’s young athletes to come up with enough funds for flights, accommodation, and other necessary expenses to compete on every occasion.

With Skyla’s fight record of nine wins, one draw, and only one loss, to miss this opportunity to represent the Northern Territory, and the whole of Australia would be a waste of all that hard work and raw talent.

“I have been training in Muay Thai since I was seven-years-old, training five days a week out of Man Ho Academy of Martial Arts, having competed in 11 fights to date at a local, national and international level,” Skyla said.

“I am currently a participant in the Northern Territory Academy Sports (NTAS) elite athlete program.

“To achieve my dreams I am asking for support to raise funds to cover the cost of travelling to Turkey for the worlds, to go to interstate fights booked in the next six months, training camps and the Nationals, all of which are vital for me to progress on my journey and dream to be an Olympian.”

She represented Australia at the 2022 IFMA World Youth Championships, achieving a first-round stoppage in the qualifying round and going on to secure a bronze medal after only one defeat to the eventual 2022 gold medallist. She also represented the Northern Territory at the Muay Thai Australian Nationals in 2022, going up several weight classes for her only draw to qualify for the Australian team in 2023.

She had also fought in Adelaide’s Pride Fight Series main card (pro show) this year where she secured a unanimous decision victory.

Skyla is inspired by Chad Collins and Bec ‘RU Ready’ Rooney. She says Chad’s style is magic and Bec is a role model due to her career successes fighting for the Green and Gold. As for an international idol, Skyla has noted Valentina Shevchenko as her favourite.

Asked for a fun fact about herself, Skyla says despite not yet having a licence, she loves riding motorbikes.

The Chatterton family are asking fellow Territorians for support. Skyla is fully dedicated to Muay Thai and is determined to bring distinction to the Northern Territory.

Let’s support Skyla! Anyone interested in helping this Territory teen can support her through https://www.gofundme.com/f/skyla-chatterton-represent-australia-worlds?utm_campaign=p_cp+share sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer and https://www.eventcreate.com/e/skylachattertonmuaythai/

To learn more about Skyla,visithttps://www.instagram.com/p/CsX8KtUttKx/?fbclid=IwAR2p1oSS3rDUq3yEav21zkQPi8cHkreTz3OrYoI9aHtbB_GYcQfRMjjINdM