IT Sligo Sports Scholarship student Dessie Leonard is celebrating the biggest success of his kickboxing career to date after securing a WAKO Senior World Championship title in Dublin.
Leonard, who’s from Riverstown and a member of the Collooney kickboxing club in county Sligo, won the senior World Continuous title (69kg) at Dublin’s Citywest Hotel.
“This is definitely the biggest win of my career so far,” said a delighted Dessie. “I had seven fights en route to this success including a tough encounter against a former world champion in the final,” he said.
Leonard won two senior European gold medals in 2014, and has now backed that success up 12 months later with a world title.
The 21-year-old recently graduated with a Level 7 degree in Health Science and Physiology from IT Sligo, and is currently studying Public Health and Health Promotion (add-on L8) at the Institute.
He is one of IT Sligo’s Gold Sports Scholarship recipients.
“It’s been a challenge balancing my academic and sporting commitments during this final year,” says Dessie. “My lecturers here at the Institute have been very supportive, and that has been a big help.”
IT Sligo’s Sports Scholarship scheme has been in operation at the Institute since 2003. It provides financial and mentoring support to athletes of outstanding talent, many of whom may have already represented IT Sligo, their county or Ireland in their respective sports.
Recipients are supported by IT Sligo in keeping up their sporting commitments at the same time as pursuing their educational commitments and goals.
Photo caption:
IT Sligo Sports Scholarship student and new WAKO World Kickboxing Champion Dessie Leonard.