WILLIAMSBURG — After winning two national championships in 2025, 11-year-old Markus Painter is headed to Thailand this summer to compete for Team USA Muay Thai at an international tournament.
Muay Thai is a combat sport that incorporates punches, kicks, elbows and knee strikes.
Painter earned his spot on Team USA after winning national titles in both the Muay Thai and kickboxing divisions at the 2025 World Kickboxing Association U.S. National Tournament, accomplishing a goal he said he had set before the event.
Painter said he is excited to head to his first international competition.
“It’s a very good feeling to achieve this,” Painter said. “It was very surprising when I got the email from Team USA because it happened so suddenly.”
The 2026 Amazing Muay Thai World Festival is scheduled for June 25-29 in Thailand, where Painter will represent Team USA. In preparation for the international competition, he has been training at Williamsburg’s House of Muay Thai.
“I’ve been doing cardio, body conditioning and biking,” Painter said. “I’m also doing a lot of calf workouts in addition to my fighting training.”
Drew Robbins, Painter’s coach, said training has focused on putting the 11-year-old in difficult situations designed to test his composure and technique.
“We’re creating situations where he has to work through adversity and stay disciplined with his technique,” Robbins said. “We want him prepared for moments where he might feel pressure or frustration during a match.”
Painter said his goal is simple.
“I just want to be the best in the world at this sport.”