Ünlü, who made history in Paris 2024, was the guest of Medipol

The Department of Special Education of the School of Education at Istanbul Medipol University organized an event titled ‘Paralympic Athletes and Media Sports Clubs’. National Paralympic Athlete Ümit Ünlü, Lecturer Kerem Arda, Galatasaray Board Member Deniz Gün Enön, Journalist Burhan Can Terzi, and Sportswriter Haluk Kesim were the guests of the event held at the South Campus. While Terzi emphasized the importance of sensitivity and empathy with athletes when reporting, Kesim stated that the press has given more coverage to paralympic sports since 2020.

ARDA: EXPERT SUPPORT IS ESSENTIAL IN ATHLETE TRAINING
Lecturer Kerem Arda from Istanbul Gelisim University School of Physical Education and Sports also drew attention to the importance of special education in increasing the potential of athletes and said: “A special education teacher knows how to do something but not what to do. That’s why we work in consultation with experts. We test athletes’ motor skills, prepare training plans, and work with all stakeholders such as families and coaches to achieve success.”

ÜNLÜ: WINNING TWO MEDALS IS VERY SPECIAL
Umut Ünlü, who made history as Türkiye’s first athlete to win a gold medal in swimming at the Paralympic Games, shared the story of how he first started swimming and his experiences after the championships. Ünlü said: “Winning two gold medals at Paris 2024 was an achievement I had dreamed of. Being the first Turkish para swimmer to win a gold medal was a great honor, but winning two gold medals at the same games was even more special. I believe this is an important moment not only for me but also for our country. In the pool, I feel unhindered. When I received my first medal, I confused the National Anthem out of excitement, but this pride was worth everything. For an athlete to become a champion, he needs to be supported from the very beginning.”

ENÖN: WE GIVE PRIORITY TO PARALYMPIC SPORTS
The Galatasaray Board Member Deniz Gün Enön also underlined the club’s support for paralympic athletes and said: “We are developing projects for the training of paralympic athletes and their success in the international arena. We are trying to support talented individuals by cooperating with three municipalities.”