Paralympic champions and national archers Öznur Cüre Girdi and Bülent Korkmaz came together with students at the event titled “The Strength That Overcomes Obstacles: A Journey to Championship Despite Neurological Disabilities” organized by the European Medical Students’ Association (EMSA) of Istanbul Medipol University.
The event titled “The Strength That Overcomes Obstacles: A Journey to Championship Despite Neurological Disabilities” was organized by the European Medical Students’ Association (EMSA) of Istanbul Medipol University. The opening speech of the event, which took place on the B4 Floor 1004 of the South Campus, was delivered by Istanbul Medipol University School of Medicine Vice-Dean Prof. Ayşegül Çopur Çiçek. The event discussed the scientific basis and psychological impact of neurological diseases and shared inspirational stories of how to overcome obstacles. Paralympic Champion National Archers Öznur Cüre Girdi and Bülent Korkmaz participated in the event as speakers. Both athletes shared their success stories of overcoming obstacles with the participants.
INSPIRATIONAL STORIES FROM CHAMPIONS
Öznur Cüre Girdi said that she was interested in karate before the traffic accident she experienced, but after the accident she had at the age of 17, she started to continue her sports life with para archery: “We won a silver medal, we broke a record. Bülent and I could not sleep that night. It was really a source of pride to bring such a medal to our country. However, missing the gold medal by only one point made us think. Still, we left with the hope that we could do better. Those were unforgettable moments. Then our successes started to come one after another.”
GİRDİ: I COULDN’T HAVE COME THIS FAR WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF MY FAMILY
Emphasizing that his family has been his biggest supporter behind his success, Girdi said: “Even when my mother was sick, her words were enough for me. My sister quit school to take care of my mother and me. My brother, who was in high school at the time, would take me to practice after school. Looking back, I couldn’t have come this far without the support of my family.”
Girdi also addressed society’s lack of awareness of people with disabilities and said: “When we become invisible, society does not notice us. Negative views that restrict disabled individuals from participating in social life cause people to withdraw. However, sports can change these perceptions and build a world where everyone can live equally.”
KORKMAZ: SPORTS CAME INTO MY LIFE BY CHANCE AND CHANGED ME
Bülent Korkmaz touched on the successes he has achieved in the international arena despite having polio. Stating that his start in sports was a complete coincidence, Korkmaz said: “I was working in the public sector before I retired. One day, my friends told me that an archery coach had arrived. We said: ‘Let's go’, and that’s how I started.” Korkmaz, who explained that he made the national team for the first time in 2013 by finishing second in the Turkish Championship, added: “I wish I had started earlier, but everything has its time.”
Emphasizing the importance of working with a good team to achieve success, Korkmaz said: “There were times when I worked alone, and that process was hard for me. But I always had people who supported me. Stating that awareness should be raised in society regarding the participation of disabled individuals in sports, Korkmaz said: “There were even those who interpreted my taking leave to go to camp for sports while working in a public institution as ‘You are getting paid for free’. However, our camps were extremely intense, and we worked really hard. Fortunately, I had understanding people who supported me.”
Son Güncelleme Tarihi: 19/03/2025 - 09:00