Young taekwondo star Max Cater is confident that a home crowd can be key as he looks to go toe-to-toe with the best on the planet at this month’s World Grand Prix in Manchester.
The 18-year-old has enjoyed one his finest seasons to date this year at 58kg with victory in both the Bosnian and Swiss Opens.
It is also a year that has seen the youngster represent Team GB for the first time after he was selected as part of the squad that went to the first European Games in Baku.
Next up for Cater is yet another competition at the highest level when he takes to the floor in Manchester and he says he is better placed than ever to take home a medal.
“I’ve had a really good season so far this year and got gold at the Bosnian Open and the Swiss Open as well,” he said.
“At Australian Open I got bronze and I went to the Baku Games as well and lost in the quarter finals but it was a really good experience.
“To compete as part of Team GB was amazing and hopefully I can compete under Olympic Rings again.
“Competing in front of a home crowd is going to be amazing and I really can’t wait to get out there and take advantage of it.
“It’s a case of going out there and seeing what I can do but my hope is that I can win a medal.”
Cater’s path to elite level sport began at a young age when he divided his time between taekwondo and kickboxing.
But after London 2012 he decided that the Olympic stage was the one for him and he insists he has never looked back.
“I used to do taekwondo when I was five but I was doing kickboxing as well but then when I watched the London Olympics I wanted to be there,” he added.
“So that’s when it became serious and it’s led me to the junior programme and now the senior programme.
“I decided after London that I wanted to focus on taekwondo because it is so dynamic and so fast and it’s amazing to do.
“I would love to go and medal at an Olympics one day and medal at worlds and Europeans.
“Training here is amazing, it was hard to get used to because you are training every day but I am used to it and its really enjoyable now.”
The World Taekwondo Grand Prix – featuring the very best Olympic and world champions from across the game – is coming to Manchester on October 16-18. Tickets on sale at www.ticketmaster.co.uk/WTGP
