Despite a historic begin to 2024, Turkish wrestlers fell wanting expectations on the 2024 Paris Olympics, returning with simply two bronze medals.
The yr started promisingly for Türkiye’s wrestling crew, as they clinched a outstanding 17 medals on the European Wrestling Championships in Bucharest, Romania, from Feb. 12 to 18.
This efficiency included seven golds, seven silvers and 4 bronzes, marking the crew’s third consecutive yr of securing 17 medals on the European stage – a record-breaking achievement.
This was additionally their most profitable outing, contemplating the standard of the medals gained.
Freestyle milestone
The spotlight of the European Championships was Türkiye’s first freestyle wrestling crew title in 31 years.
After the 1993 European Championships in Istanbul, Türkiye’s freestyle wrestlers returned to the highest with two golds, two silvers and two bronzes, claiming the crew title.
Meanwhile, the Greco-Roman crew, with two golds, three silvers and one bronze, secured their second consecutive European title.
This achievement marked a historic first for Türkiye, with championships in each classes on the similar European occasion.
Kayaalp’s missed file
Riza Kayaalp, on the cusp of a gold medal file, fell quick within the Greco-Roman 130 kg. remaining, dropping to Russia’s Sergei Semenov.
The defeat meant Kayaalp, who had hoped to interrupt the file of 12 European golds, must wait one other yr.
Despite his efforts, he shared the earlier file with Russian nice Aleksandr Karelin, having gained his twelfth title in 2023.
Standout performers at European Championships
Here’s a have a look at Türkiye’s medalists in Bucharest:
Greco-Roman (2 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze)
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 (3 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze)
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 (2 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze)
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.)
Two Olympics bronze medals
The Paris 2024 Olympics noticed Türkiye’s wrestling crew carry dwelling solely two bronze medals.
Taha Akgül, who had already gained gold in Rio 2016 and bronze in Tokyo 2020, repeated his third-place end in Paris.
Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu, after Yasemin Adar Yiğit, turned solely the second Turkish feminine wrestler to win an Olympic medal.
Despite their achievements, the crew fell wanting securing gold.
Taha Akgül’s farewell
For Akgül, Paris marked the tip of an illustrious profession.
The three-time Olympic medalist and 11-time European champion retired from lively competitors after incomes his third Olympic medal, forsaking a legacy of twenty-two main worldwide medals, together with 15 golds.
Historic miss for Greco-Roman wrestling
For the primary time in 36 years, Türkiye’s Greco-Roman wrestling crew left the Olympics with out a medal.
This marked the tip of a protracted streak that started with Mehmet Akif Pirim’s gold and Hakkı Başar’s silver in Barcelona 1992.
The absence of Riza Kayaalp, a key determine previously three Olympics, was a vital blow to the crew.
Missing gold in final 2 Olympics
Turkish wrestlers’ golden period on the Olympics appears to have cooled, with no golds in both Tokyo 2020 or Paris 2024.
Here’s a breakdown of the medal tally for the final three Olympics:
Rio 2016 (1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze)
Gold: Taha Akgül
Silver: Riza Kayaalp, Selim Yaşar
Bronze: Cenk Ildem, Soner Demirtaş
Tokyo 2020 (3 bronze)
Bronze: Riza Kayaalp, Taha Akgül, Yasemin Adar Yiğit
Paris 2024 (2 bronze)
Bronze: Taha Akgül, Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu
World Championship outcomes
At the World Wrestling Championship held in Tirana, Albania, in October 2024, the place Olympic non-qualification weights have been contested, Türkiye earned two medals: a silver from Ahmet Duman in freestyle 61 kg and a bronze from Ahmet Yılmaz in Greco-Roman 82 kg.
New period looms
On Dec. 18, Türkiye’s Wrestling Federation will maintain its presidential election in Ankara.
Two candidates, Taha Akgül and Selçuk Çebi, will compete for the highest place.
Former president Şeref Eroğlu introduced he wouldn’t search reelection after his three-year tenure.
Akgül, who retired after Paris 2024, and Çebi, a three-time world champion, are each eyeing the function, signaling a possible shift in management.
Source: www.dailysabah.com