27.07.2019
The 2019 European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) ended in Baku, Azerbaijan, with a Closing Ceremony held at the Crystal Hall and the Turkish delegation had good reason to celebrate. A total of 27 medals, including 11 gold, 6 silver and 10 bronze saw Turkey secure third place overall, behind only Russia and the United Kingdom. Baku 2019 is Turkey’s most successful EYOF campaign since the biennial competition was introduced in 1991.
Three medals on the final day
On the last day of EYOF, Turkey was still competing for medals in judo, volleyball and basketball. The mixed judo team won gold with a 4-0 defeat of Russia in the final. In the boys’ basketball competition, Turkey was awarded silver after losing 65-52 to Spain in the final. The Turkish girls’ volleyball team also took bronze, beating Italy in the 3rd/4th place play-off.
Turkish success in Baku
A total of 126 Turkish athletes competed across nine sports at Baku 2019. Over the seven days of competition, 10 of Turkey’s 27 medals came from swimming. Others came from athletics (6), judo (6), wrestling (3), basketball (1) and volleyball (1).
The next Summer EYOF will be held in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, in 2021.
Medals won by Turkey at Baku 2019:
Athletics
Pinar Akyol - Shot Put - Gold Medal
Umut Uysal - 100m - Gold Medal
Özlem Becerek - Discus - Bronze Medal
Esra Türkmen - Javelin - Bronze Medal
Mustafa Tekdal - 10,000m Walk - Bronze Medal
Berke Akçam - 400m Hurdles - Bronze Medal
Basketball
Boys’ Team - Silver Medal
Wrestling
Emine Çakmak - u49kg - Gold Medal
Nesrin Baş - u65kg - Silver Medal
Umut Çoban - Greco-Roman 45kg - Silver Medal
Judo
Merve Azak - u44kg - Gold Medal
Özlem Yıldız - u57kg - Gold Medal
Hilal Öztürk - +70kg - Gold Medal
Berat Bahadır - u55kg - Gold Medal
Müberra Güneş - u40kg - Silver Medal
Mixed Team - Gold Medal
Volleyball
Girls’ Team - Bronze Medal
Swimming
Beril Böcekler - 400m Freestyle - Gold Medal
Beril Böcekler - 200m Freestyle - Gold Medal
Beril Böcekler - 800m Freestyle - Gold Medal
Merve Tuncel - 200m Butterfly Style - Silver Medal
Berke Saka - 200m Backstroke - Silver Medal
Sudem Denizli - 200m Backstroke - Bronze Medal
Deniz Ertan - 200m Individual Medley Style - Bronze Medal
Bora Gülşen - 200m Individual Freestyle - Bronze Medal
Berke Saka - 200m Individual Medley Style - Bronze Medal
Batuhan Filiz, Efe Hacisalihoglu, Yigit Aslan and Bora Gulsen - Men 4x100m Freestyle - Bronze Medal