KICKBOXER Kalum Heywood-Byatt is now a triple world champion after pummelling the competition at an international event.

The Queen Katherine School pupil, 17, travelled to Tuscany to take part in the World Kickboxing and Karate Association World Championships and returned with three gold medals and a bronze around his neck.

The medal haul came as a bit of a surprise to Kalum, who did not even know he was competing in one event until he had arrived in Italy.

In total, Kalum is now world champion in the ring continuous under 79kg under 19 category, the mat light continuous under 79kg category and the mat light continuous under 85kg category.

He also claimed bronze in the points competition.

The categories vary in approach with the ring continuous being the most brutal and physically demanding while the points competition is all about striking first.

Kalum fought a total of six people in three days and believes it was his fitness that got him through.

He said: "At the beginning of the fight you're trading punches but towards the end I was really happy with myself because they would die away a lot more than I would. The hard work has paid off - it's worth it afterwards. It's a nice feeling to be a triple world champion but it hasn't really sunk in yet."

When he arrived at the tournament, Kalum was asked if he would like to move up a weight class and compete in the 85kg mat continuous competition - a daunting prospect for most fighters.

But Kalum did not bat an eyelid as he claimed another gold.

"My opponent was about my height," said Kalum.

"The only thing was he had more power in his punches so I had to try and block more than I normally do!"

Stuart Byatt is Kalum's father and coached him at the tournament.

He spoke of his 'pride' at his son's achievements.

"Kalum’s work rate and determination meant he deserved to get good results, but in sport that doesn’t mean you get them," said Stuart.

"I am delighted for him and his brilliant achievements and I could not be more proud of the way he has handled himself before, during and after the tournament. Taking it all in his stride like the well balanced man he has become. I realised it when he got hammered at a tournament and badly beaten and he didn't speak for two hours after it. Then he said 'Dad, I'm going to win that tournament next year' and he did."

And his coach at the Kendal Lau Gar Kung Fu and Kick Boxing Club, Steve Mattison, could not speak highly enough of his star pupil.

He said: "He's a very special talent. He puts the work in and I could tell he was going to do well. You can see he's confident in himself but he's one of the nicest people you will ever meet."

But Kalum's gruelling 20 hour a week training regime takes a toll on his academic success and his mum has grounded him so he can focus on getting good grades at A-Level - something Kalum admits is 'probably for the best'.