The Turkish National Women’s Volleyball Team, which has recently brought the entire nation to its feet, has achieved historic success. From now on, the defining phrase is: “They succeeded, and so can you.” This message is dedicated to all young people who love sports and wish to pursue them seriously.
Beyond team sports, we also see champions emerging from individual disciplines. Our national swimmer Sümeyye Boyacı, who missed first place by just three-hundredths of a second at the World Para Swimming Championships in London, immediately comes to mind. This was followed by more joyful news: our Greco-Roman wrestler Rıza Kayaalp became a world champion for the fourth time, becoming the first Turkish wrestler to achieve such a feat. With Rıza at 29 and Sümeyye at only 16, who better exemplifies the phrase “They succeeded, and so can you”?
Another monumental sporting achievement was created by Şaziye Erdoğan. At the World Championships held in Thailand, our national weightlifter became the world champion. In a demanding sport like weightlifting, this result is a victory for Turkey and, quite frankly, for women everywhere. Weighing only 45 kg, Şaziye successfully lifted a total of 169 kg.
Individual Sports vs. Team Sports
All these achievements prove that “it happens when you work for it.” Success is deeply rooted in being disciplined and finding opportunities. This is why a significant responsibility falls upon sports federations. Their duty is not only to provide every facility for established athletes but also to discover and nurture new talents. The love for volleyball inspired by the “Sultans of the Net” has led to the widespread opening of volleyball sports schools. The same can apply to swimming, taekwondo, fencing, and basketball. As long as our youth are determined and choose to be “intelligent, agile, and ethical” athletes, success will follow. True sportsmanship requires a gentlemanly spirit; it does not tolerate the excessive aggression sometimes seen in professional football.
Let’s set the technicalities aside for a moment and focus on what truly matters: Young athletes, if you want to pursue sports, never give up and explore every opportunity. We share this message especially for our young girls. Deniz Selin Ünlüdağ, who made history in fencing, and our taekwondo champion İrem Yaman—known as “The Gold Hunter” and a two-time World Champion—are beacons of inspiration for thousands of young athletes today.
İrem Yaman’s famous words serve as a lesson for us all: “My greatest source of motivation was being told ‘you can’t do it.’” By winning world titles despite the doubters, she proved to the world that “impossible” is just a word. They succeeded, and by following in their footsteps, you can too. At Complex Istanbul, we stand by our athletes with this exact mindset, supporting those who defy the odds.
As a final note, we would like to add that the sports mentioned in our article are indoor sports, and these facilities are becoming increasingly common in our country. As these successes grow, it will also pave the way for sponsorship—a serious aspect of the industry. Now, companies are lining up to support the Sultans of the Net.