Bartın University (BARÜ) made a mark on Turkish sports with the achievements of its national athletes, and the "Champion Athletes Area" featuring their names was inaugurated with a ceremony held during BARÜFEST.
The opening ceremony of the "Champion Athletes Area," created for BARÜ's national athletes who achieved rankings in national and international competitions, was held as part of BARÜ's traditional Science, Culture, Arts, and Sports Festival, BARÜFEST’24. The ceremony was attended by BARÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Orhan Uzun, Bartın Deputy Mayor Şamil Keser, Provincial Assembly President Turhan Kalaycı, Bartın Youth and Sports Provincial Director Halil Akkaş, representatives from various institutions and organizations, numerous academics, and students.
“We Will Continue to Train Athletes Who Will Achieve Great Success”
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the "Champion Athletes Area," Rector Uzun stated that they have been training successful athletes through the sports environment created at BARÜ.
Rector Uzun said, “As Bartın University, we have recently turned sports into a part of our institutional culture, increasing our investments in sports and athletes. While providing our students with new areas to engage in sports, we also aimed to train professional athletes who will represent our country successfully. As a result of our efforts, we have contributed to the training of national athletes in many branches, leading them to win medals. Behind the achievements of athletes who bring great joy, excitement, and pride to the Turkish nation lies an intense work pace and sacrifice. On this occasion, I congratulate our national athletes from BARÜ and wholeheartedly believe that we will continue to train athletes who will achieve great successes,” he said.
In the area prepared at the Faculty of Sport Sciences, the biographies and names of national athletes who have made us proud with their achievements, as well as the medals they have won, are displayed.
From BARÜ to the Olympics: The Journey of Women Athletes to Victory
After visiting the "Champion Athletes Area," a talk titled "From BARÜ to the Olympics: The Journey of Women Athletes to Victory" was held as part of the BARÜFEST program. The talk began with a short film screening showcasing the achievements of national athletes in European and World Championships.
In the talk moderated by Dr. Çiğdem Gökduman from the Department of Sports Management at the Faculty of Sport Sciences, BARÜ's national athletes Şennur Demir, Evin Demirhan Yavuz, and Zeynep Yetgil participated as speakers. The program, which discussed the success stories of women athletes starting from BARÜ and reaching medals, as well as their inspiring efforts for young people, received great interest.
BARÜ’s National Athletes Shared Their Experiences
The national athletes emphasized that the sports environment created at BARÜ played a significant role in their success in both sports and education, thanking the Rector of BARÜ, Prof. Dr. Orhan Uzun, and the faculty members of the Faculty of Sport Sciences who contributed to this.
Şennur Demir, a BARÜ graduate and world champion in the +81 kg category at the 2022 Women's World Boxing Championships, talked about her education life, athletic journey, the work she did, and her achievements.
Şennur Demir: Our University Provides Us With the Necessary Support
Speaking about BARÜ's emphasis on sports, national boxer Demir said, “A sports career shapes your lifestyle. We live everything according to sports, from nutrition to rest. We athletes manage to achieve both academic and athletic success simultaneously. In this regard, our university provides us with the necessary support and dedication in education,” she said.
Evin Demirhan Yavuz: We Make Significant Progress in Education at BARÜ
Evin Demirhan Yavuz, who holds the title of the Turkish female wrestler with the most medals in European and World Championships, having won 17 medals as of 2021 and earned the right to represent our country at the 2024 Paris Olympics, shared the processes and experiences leading to her world and European championships.
National wrestler and BARÜ student Demirhan Yavuz said, “Sports requiring struggle were seen as men's sports. However, we break these taboos with our achievements. We will continue to proudly represent our country with our successes. Our sports careers will end one day, so choosing the right university like BARÜ and having the right professors allows us to make significant progress in education,” she said.
Zeynep Yetgil: We Have Become Much More Informed Athletes Thanks to BARÜ
National wrestler and BARÜ student Zeynep Yetgil, who has proudly flown our flag with 11 bronze, 5 silver, and 4 gold medals and will represent at the 2024 Paris Olympics, said that the secret to her success is working without losing motivation and discipline.
Expressing her goal of achieving new successes at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Yetgil said, “In the past, there was pressure like ‘Can a woman be a wrestler?’ However, we proved that success is not a coincidence with our medals. We live our lives focused on sports and success, and our greatest source of motivation is our achievements. I do not plan to leave wrestling until it leaves me. I dream, I believe, and I achieve. Thanks to BARÜ, we have become much more informed athletes by taking well-equipped classes even if we are far away,” she said.
The program, followed with interest by BARÜFEST participants, concluded with a Q&A session and a commemorative photo shoot.
Publication Date: 28.05.2024
