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Glasgow Boy's Karate Triumph Over Health Battle
7 Apr
Summary
- Teenager won a bronze medal at the World Karate Championships.
- He overcame a serious childhood illness requiring life support.
- Ben also holds a black belt and plays competitive rugby.

Ben Cotter, a 15-year-old from Glasgow, has earned a bronze medal at the JSKA World Karate Championships in Matsuyama, Japan. This achievement is remarkable considering his challenging early life. As an infant, Ben required neonatal intensive care and later life support due to bronchomalacia, a condition causing airways to collapse. He experienced breathing cessation and was resuscitated multiple times, even suffering permanent lung damage from collapsed lungs.
Despite these severe health issues, Ben took up karate at age four and persevered. He is now a black belt and has competed globally. His recent success in Japan also saw him graded to Shodan (first-degree black belt). Beyond karate, Ben is a talented rugby player, competing for West of Scotland and his school, Kelvinside Academy.
Ben's coach and school rector have lauded his resilience and spirit. His journey from a critical health state to a world-class athlete is an inspiration. Ben aspires to study medicine and continues to focus on future karate competitions, including upcoming events in Italy.