Occupation
Athlete
Education
Physical Education - Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University, Turkey
Family
Husband Ozgur Sanli, daughter Lina [2015]
Spoken languages
English, Turkish
Coach
Mergul Guler Yilmaz [personal]; Ozgur Gumuslu [national]
Sporting relatives
Her husband Ozgur Sanli competed in artistic gymnastics for Turkey at the 2010 World Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands. (SportsDeskOnline, 30 Sep 2021; intlgymnast.com, 08 Jan 2021)
Injuries
She missed the 2017 World Championships in Montreal, QC, Canada, due to injury. (thegymter.net, 08 Jan 2018)
An elbow injury meant she was only able to compete in the beam competition at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. (fig-gymnastics.com, 02 Nov 2018; istekadinlar.com, 27 Nov 2016)
Start sporting career
She took up gymnastics at age five. (memohaber.com; 03 Sep 2019; istekadinlar.com, 27 Nov 2016)
Milestones
She became the first artistic gymnast to represent Turkey at the Olympic Games when she competed on beam at the 2012 Games in London. (SportsDeskOnline, 20 Sep 2017; istekadinlar.com, 27 Nov 2016)
Most memorable sporting achievement
Claiming victory in the floor exercise at the 2016 World Cup event in Mersin, Turkey. (istekadinlar.com, 27 Nov 2016)
Hero / Idol
Uzbek gymnast Oksana Chusovitina. (gymnastics.sport, 02 Nov 2018)
Additional information
General
GYMNASTICS BREAK AND RETURN
She took a four-year break from gymnastics after the 2012 Olympic Games in London. She got married, started a family and also suffered from injury during this period. She returned to competition 11 months after the birth of her daughter Lina to claim victory in the floor exercise at the 2016 World Cup event in Mersin, Turkey. "To win gold in my first competition after the birth of my daughter was incredible. It is a special moment considering I only returned to training in early 2016." (istekadinlar.com, 27 Nov 2016)
INSPIRING HER DAUGHTER
She believes the experience of becoming a mother has strengthened her and she hopes to be an inspiration to her daughter Lina. "I realised that I was more powerful, especially after I became a mother. I think I'm an example to my daughter and other athletes. We do gymnastics training with my daughter. I'm preparing Lina for the Olympics in 2032." (yeniasir.com.tr, 13 Sep 2019; fanatik.com.tr, 12 Sep 2019)
Last update : 2021-10-04