World Champion Swimmer Defne Kurt Welcomed with Great Enthusiasm at Yeditepe University

National swimmer Defne Kurt, who made history in Turkish sports by winning five gold medals at the World Para Swimming Championships, was greeted with great excitement by students and faculty members at Yeditepe University, where she completed her undergraduate studies.

Yeditepe University Founder and Honorary President Bedrettin Dalan said, “We are truly happy for our country, for the Turkish nation, and of course, for our university. We have gathered to celebrate a remarkable chain of achievements. In a global water sports event where athletes from all over the world compete, our student, Defne Kurt, a young Turkish woman, won five gold medals in five categories. This is a great source of pride.”

Having made Turkish sports history by winning five gold medals at the World Para Swimming Championships, Defne Kurt was welcomed with flowers at Yeditepe University, where she is also beginning her Master’s degree studies this year. A graduate of the Department of Psychology, Kurt was received by Founder and Honorary President Bedrettin Dalan and Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Durman.

Inspiring the Next Generation

During the surprise celebration held in front of the Rectorate building, the national athlete was welcomed with cheers from students, becoming an inspiration to young people through her success.

At the World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore, Kurt became the first Turkish athlete ever to win five gold medals in a single world championship, earning victories in five different categories.

Speaking at the press conference, Founder and Honorary President Bedrettin Dalan said:

“We are overjoyed — for our country, for the Turkish nation, and for our university. In a world-class water sports competition, our student, Defne Kurt, a Turkish girl, won gold medals in five events. This is a tremendous honor. We wanted to share this success with our people so that everyone can feel proud of our young achievers.

Atatürk once said, ‘I love athletes who are intelligent, agile, and moral.’ These young people are both the bright and intelligent students of our university and moral, agile athletes. They have proven this once again through their achievements.”

“I Went to the World Championships Aiming for Three Golds but Returned with Five”

National athlete Defne Kurt shared her feelings after the championship:

“This year, the World Championships were held in Singapore. It was incredibly exciting but also very stressful for me. I competed in five events over seven intense days, with races both in the mornings and evenings. Since the heats and finals were held separately, it was physically and mentally challenging.

On the first day, after winning my gold in the 50-meter freestyle, I felt that I had achieved something and that more was to come. I told myself, ‘I still have four races left — why not four more golds?’ The medals were also beautifully designed. After winning my second gold, even I couldn’t believe what I was capable of.

I had gone to the World Championships aiming for three gold medals, but I came back with five. Every morning and night, I thought only about my races — how many underwater kicks to make, how to pace my strokes, how to finish, how to dive. It was truly a tough and exhausting process.”

“Hold On to Your Dreams and Never Give Up”

“Each night after winning a gold medal, I went to sleep with my medals beside me,” said Defne Kurt. “Being a five-time world champion is an indescribable joy. I’ve been dreaming of this since I was nine years old. Every birthday, when blowing out the candles, I wished to become a world champion. Now that little girl’s dream has come true, and I couldn’t be happier.

I’m also proud to have represented my country and my university abroad to the best of my abilities. I want to be a role model for all young people and children who may have lost their sense of purpose or inner light. If you truly want something, you can achieve it. The key is believing in yourself. I believed, and I succeeded. Hold on to your dreams and never give up.””