Igor Liubchenko (Ukraine) is one of the most successful Muaythai athletes ever, having won multiple World and European Champion titles. In 2015 he was the first athlete to qualify for The World Games 2017, and amazingly in May 2019 he is in the first group of athletes (5 altogether) that has qualified for The World Games 2021! He is the only Muaythai athlete who has qualified for two editions of The World Games – and he is reigning The World Games Champion in the category 63.5 kg. More than deservedly, he is our Athlete of May 2019!
The Muaythai qualifications began this year at the Arafura Games in Australia, where Igor Liubchenko became the first athlete in IFMA history to qualify for two consecutive editions of The World Games by winning all his bouts. He is also reigning World Champion – he dominated the IFMA World Championship 2018 in Cancun, Mexico by again winning all of his bouts.
In addition to his athletic achievements, Liubchenko is also involved as a coach, sharing his vast experience with young athletes. He has been coaching the Ukrainian youth national team at several Youth World Championships.
In 2015 he was given the Triumph of the Year award by the Ukrainian National Olympic Committee as the most outstanding sportsman, and in 2017 he was given one of the highest governmental awards, Order of Merit of III degree, by the Mayor of the city Odessa, Gennady Trukhanov. Trukhanov is also the President of the European Muaythai Federation.
In 2021, Igor Liubchenko could well be one of the strongest candidates for The World Games 2021 Champion!
Sources:
The World Games