Linn Yon May

Linn Yon May (Burmese: လင်းယုန်မေး; born 14 June 2000) is a Burmese Lethwei fighter and 2017 Regions and States gold medalist. Even though she switched clubs, she has kept the nickname taken on while at the Linn Yon Club (Linn Yon translates to Eagle).

Linn Yon May was initially coached by Tun Tun Lwin, also known as Linn Yon Gyi, who was a former boxer and successful flag-fighter himself. He started the Linn Yon Club in January 2017, which was a land plot on the side of the road with rudimentary training equipment for the larger part of May's enrollment there. Although she went undefeated, May switched to the popular Mandalay based lethwei club Bamar Thway in June 2018.

One name stands out in the list of fights she has had due to the incredibly low number of female athletes in the sport. She has been paired up with Shwe Ko Lay numerous times because finding a suitable opponent is difficult. This is in part due to the country's past. Having been ruled by the military for decades, it forced gender discrimination and a male dominated society. But slowly women are fighting back, some opting for positions in parliament and areas in technology and business. Others by participating in sports like lethwei. After the 2018 Regions and States competition the Myanmar Traditional Boxing Federation has stated they wish to increase the number of practitioners and promote women's lethwei.

The sixth meeting between May and Shwe Ko Lay turned out to be historic as it was the first time since the inception of the Golden Belt Championship in 1996 that women could participate and take home one of the coveted golden belts, previously only won by men.

For a brief moment Linn Yon May was scheduled to appear on the ONE Championship "Quest For Gold" card in Yangon on February 23, 2018, where she would have faced Bozhena Antoniyar (also known under her lethwei moniker Mi Lay). Unfortunately due to a failed medical with details undisclosed, she was replaced by Shwe Sin Wint War. She has not been re-booked since.