Turkish Wrestling: A Year of Triumphs and Disappointments
Table of Contents
Turkish wrestling fans experienced a whirlwind of emotions in 2024. The year began with a stunning display of dominance at the European Wrestling Championships, only to be followed by a less-than-stellar showing at the Paris Olympics. While the early victories fueled high hopes, the ultimate medal count left many wanting more.
The European Wrestling Championships in Bucharest, Romania (February 12-18), saw the Turkish team achieve a remarkable feat: 17 medals. This included seven gold, seven silver, and four bronze medals, marking their third consecutive year with this impressive haul – a testament to their consistent excellence. “This was also their moast prosperous outing, considering the quality of the medals won,” a wrestling analyst noted.
A Freestyle Milestone
The most significant achievement in Bucharest was undoubtedly Türkiye’s first freestyle wrestling team title in 31 years. Their performance, featuring two gold, two silver, and two bronze medals, catapulted them back to the top of the European stage, echoing their 1993 triumph in Istanbul. The greco-Roman team also continued their winning streak, securing their second consecutive European title with two gold, three silver, and one bronze medal. This double victory marked a historic first for Türkiye, achieving championships in both categories at the same European event.
Kayaalp’s Near-Record
Riza Kayaalp, aiming for a record-breaking 13th European gold medal in Greco-Roman 130 kg, narrowly missed his mark.He faced defeat against russia’s Sergei Semenov in the final. This setback meant Kayaalp, who tied the existing record of 12 golds in 2023, will have to wait for another chance to surpass the legendary Aleksandr Karelin.
Bucharest’s medalists
Here’s a breakdown of Türkiye’s medal winners at the European Championships:
- Greco-Roman: Gold: Selçuk Can (72 kg.), Alperen Berber (82 kg.); Silver: Riza Kayaalp (130 kg.), Ali Cengiz (87 kg.), Yunus Emre Başar (77 kg.); Bronze: Murat Fırat (67 kg.)
- Women’s Wrestling: Gold: buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (68 kg.), Nesrin Baş (72 kg.), Yasemin adar Yiğit (76 kg.); Silver: Evin Demirhan yavuz (50 kg.); bronze: Zeynep Yetgil (53 kg.)
- Men’s Freestyle: Gold: Taha Akgül (125 kg.), Feyzullah Aktürk (92 kg.); Silver: Muhammet Karavuş (57 kg.), Soner Demirtaş (74 kg.); Bronze: Osman Göçen (86 kg.), İbrahim Çiftçi (97 kg.)
Paris Olympics: A Bronze Showing
The Paris 2024 Olympics yielded a less triumphant result for the Turkish wrestling team, with only two bronze medals. Taha Akgül, a previous gold medalist (Rio 2016) and bronze medalist (Tokyo 2020), secured another bronze in Paris. While individual successes were celebrated, the overall performance fell short of the expectations set by their earlier European dominance.
Turkish Wrestling Team’s Paris 2024: A Mixed Bag of Medals and Milestones
The Turkish wrestling team concluded its Paris 2024 Olympic campaign with a blend of triumph and disappointment. While several athletes achieved remarkable feats, including historic firsts for female wrestlers, the team fell short of its gold medal aspirations, marking a shift in the nation’s wrestling dominance.
Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu etched her name in Turkish wrestling history, becoming only the second Turkish woman to win an Olympic medal, following in the footsteps of Yasemin Adar Yiğit. Their bronze medals, however, couldn’t mask the overall lack of gold.
Taha Akgül’s farewell: A Legacy Forged in Bronze
The Paris Olympics marked the end of an era for Taha Akgül, a wrestling legend who concluded his illustrious career with a third Olympic medal. His retirement caps off a phenomenal career spanning 22 major international medals, including 15 golds. “This was my last competition,” Akgül stated after his bronze medal match, signifying the end of a dominant chapter in turkish wrestling.
Greco-Roman Wrestling’s Historic Drought
For the first time in 36 years, Türkiye’s Greco-Roman wrestling team returned from the Olympics without a single medal. This unprecedented drought ended a streak that began with Mehmet Akif Pirim’s gold and Hakkı Başar’s silver at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.The absence of riza Kayaalp, a pivotal figure in the team’s recent olympic successes, considerably impacted their performance.
A Shift in Olympic Fortune: the Absence of Gold
The past two Olympic Games, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, have seen a noticeable decline in Turkey’s gold medal haul in wrestling. A comparison of the medal tallies reveals a clear trend:
- Rio 2016: 1 Gold (Taha Akgül), 2 Silver (Riza Kayaalp, Selim Yaşar), 2 Bronze (Cenk Ildem, Soner Demirtaş)
- Tokyo 2020: 3 Bronze (Riza Kayaalp, Taha Akgül, Yasemin Adar Yiğit)
- Paris 2024: 2 Bronze (Taha Akgül, Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu)
This shift raises questions about the future of Turkish wrestling and the strategies needed to reclaim its former Olympic glory.
Looking Ahead: World Championships and a New Generation
at the World Wrestling Championships in Tirana, Albania, in October 2024, Turkey secured two medals: a silver from Ahmet Duman in freestyle 61 kg and a bronze from Ahmet Yılmaz in Greco-Roman 82 kg. These results offer a glimpse into the potential of the next generation of Turkish wrestlers. The Turkish Wrestling Federation’s upcoming meeting on December 18th will likely shape the future direction of the sport in the country.
Ankara Presidential Election: A New Era Dawns
Ankara is bracing for a closely watched presidential election, with the outcome poised to reshape the nation’s political landscape. The contest pits two formidable candidates against each other, promising a dynamic and potentially transformative period for the city.
The race features Taha Akgül and Selçuk Çebi,both highly decorated figures in their respective fields. Akgül, a recent retiree from the international stage following the Paris 2024 games, brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to the campaign. his opponent, Çebi, a three-time world champion, boasts a proven track record of success and a strong national following.
This election marks a significant turning point, as former president Şeref Eroğlu has decided against seeking re-election after a three-year term. Eroğlu’s decision opens the door for a new generation of leadership, and the contest between Akgül and Çebi reflects this shift.
The election is expected to draw significant attention both domestically and internationally, given the importance of Ankara’s role in Turkish politics and global affairs. The candidates’ platforms and policy positions will be closely scrutinized as voters weigh their choices.
the upcoming weeks will be crucial as the candidates campaign across the city, outlining their visions for Ankara’s future. The election promises to be a closely fought contest, with the outcome likely to have far-reaching consequences for the city and the nation.
Turkish Wrestling: A Year of Triumphs and Disappointments
This interview will explore the highs and lows of Turkish wrestling in 2024,focusing on their dominant performance at the European championships and their ultimately less triumphant showing at the Paris Olympics.
I. European Championships: A Year of Dominance
Turkish WrestlingS Success in Bucharest: Discuss the impressive medal haul at the 2024 European Championships in Bucharest, Romania (17 medals, including 7 gold, 7 silver, and 4 bronze).
Highlight the meaning of this achievement, marking their third consecutive year with this impressive medal count.
“This was also their most prosperous outing, considering the quality of the medals won,” a wrestling analyst noted.
Freestyle Milestone:
Discuss Türkiye’s first freestyle wrestling team title in 31 years.
Highlight the historic nature of this victory,echoing their 1993 triumph in Istanbul.
Mention their specific performances, including two gold, two silver, and two bronze medals.
Greco-Roman Success:
Discuss the greco-roman team’s continued dominance, securing their second consecutive European title with two gold, three silver, and one bronze medal.
Explain the historical significance of this victory, marking the first time Türkiye championed both freestyle and Greco-Roman events at the same European Championships.
Kayaalp’s Near-Record:
Discuss Riza Kayaalp’s near miss in securing a record-breaking 13th European gold medal.
Explain the context: He tied the existing record of 12 golds in 2023 and was aiming to surpass the legendary Aleksandr Karelin’s mark.
Medalists at the European Championships:
Provide a breakdown of Türkiye’s medal winners across all categories (greco-Roman, Women’s Wrestling, and Men’s Freestyle) at the European Championships.
II. Paris Olympics: A Disappointing Turnout
Mixed Results in Paris:
Discuss the Turkish wrestling team’s performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics, highlighting the mixed bag of medals and milestones.
Mention the two bronze medals,
Taha Akgül’s Farewell:
Discuss Taha Akgül’s final Olympic appearance and his bronze medal victory.
Emphasize the significance of his career, concluding with 22 major international medals, including 15 golds.
Quote his statement: “This was my last competition.”
The Absence of Greco-Roman Success:
Analyze the unprecedented drought in Greco-Roman wrestling, marking the first time in 36 years that Türkiye returned from the Olympics without a single medal in this category.
Shifting Olympic Fortunes: The decline of Gold Medals:
Compare the medal tallies from the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games to highlight the decline in gold medal wins for Turkish wrestling.
Discuss the potential reasons behind this shift.
III. Looking Forward:
Future Prospects for Turkish Wrestling:
Discuss the challenges and opportunities for the Turkish wrestling team moving forward.
Mention the need for new talent development and strategic planning to regain their dominant position in international competitions.
The Legacy of Taha Akgül:
Discuss Taha Akgül’s lasting impact on Turkish wrestling and his inspiration for future generations.
