Yılmaz slams gender bias to dominate arm-wrestling

Şükriye Yılmaz (R) trains for the Europeans, Gümüşhane, Türkiye, March 1, 2024.

TURKISH athlete Şükriye Yılmaz has clinched the first-place title in both national and international armwrestling competitions a remarkable 30 times, defying initial skepticism from those around her who considered it a “men’s sport.”

After starting her sports journey with handball in middle school, 23-year-old Şükriye Yılmaz shifted her focus to arm wrestling in high school in 2016.

A fourth-year student at Gümüşhane University’s Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, Yılmaz has achieved numerous successes in various competitions.

She aims to finish her youth category career in the 55 kg. Weight class with new medals at the European Championship in Slovakia from May 2-12, followed by the World Championship.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), Yılmaz expressed her profound passion for arm wrestling.

With an impressive record of seven world, six European and 17 Turkish championships, she is breaking stereotypes and barriers for girls who face selfexpression and sports attire limitations.

Yılmaz views arm wrestling not as a hobby but as an integral part of her life.

Despite initial doubts and societal pressures, she has persisted and succeeded, proving that arm wrestling is not just for men.

She aspires to become a physical education teacher at a rural school, where she can impart her experiences to students and challenge stereotypes as she finds the greatest reward in inspiring children.

Şükriye Yılmaz emphasized the crucial role of her coach, Davut Altuntaş, highlighting the pride she felt in becoming the world champion at the World Championship in Kazakhstan last year.

Despite facing challenges such as weight loss and rigorous training, spending two to three hours daily in tough conditions, she finds representing Türkiye to be the ultimate reward.