Hobbies
Playing computer games, shopping, reading, watching movies, diving. (Facebook page, 07 Sep 2021; tr.eurosport.com, 19 Apr 2020)
Occupation
Athlete, Student
Education
Physical Education, Teaching - Ege University: Izmir, TUR
Family
Partner Ezgi
Spoken languages
Bulgarian, English, German, Turkish
Club
Savkar Cimnastik Spor Kulubu: Izmir, TUR
Coach
Yilmaz Goktekin [national]
Sporting relatives
His partner Ezgi Bozdemir has represented Turkey in rhythmic gymnastics, including at the 2014 World Championships in Izmir, Turkey. (Instagram profile, 02 Aug 2023; gymnastics.sport, 01 Jan 2021)
Injuries
In August 2022 he sustained a shoulder injury. (olympics.com, 14 Oct 2022; Facebook profile, 10 Oct 2022)
At the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo he withdrew from the all-around final after the first three apparatus due to a shoulder injury. (world-today-news.com, 28 Jul 2021)
In March 2018 he suffered an ankle injury. (Instagram profile, 13 Mar 2018)
Start sporting career
He took up gymnastics at age eight at Savkar Cimnastik Spor Kulubu in Izmir, Turkey.
Reason for taking up the sport
He was inspired to try the sport after watching the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens on television. "My favourite gymnast was Hiroyuki Tomita [Japanese]. I watched him and my dream began. I said to myself, 'I must be there one day'. I was raised in a small village near Izmir, where there were no sports facilities. But I was a hyperactive child and there was a sports centre in my aunt's neighbourhood in Izmir. That's where I started. I feel like I was born to be a gymnast. I am happy doing it, and even when I come across difficulties I never give up because I do something that I like. I saw my future in gymnastics."
Milestones
He became the first artistic gymnast representing Turkiye to win a medal on parallel bars at the world championships by claiming silver at the 2019 edition of the tournament in Stuttgart, Germany. (SportsDeskOnline, 30 Apr 2020)
Ambitions
To win a medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. (intlgymnast.com, 14 Nov 2021)
Most memorable sporting achievement
Placing ninth in the individual all-around at the 2017 World Championships in Montreal, QC, Canada. (tr.eurosport.com, 19 Apr 2020)
Hero / Idol
Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, US basketball player LeBron James, Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova, Swiss tennis player Roger Federer, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt. (tr.eurosport.com, 19 Apr 2020)
Philosophy / Motto
"You can always fool your coach or your friends but you cannot ever deceive yourself." (aa.com.tr, 28 Feb 2020)
Last update : 2024-07-22