The 2023 European Indoor Athletics Championships featured competition among stars of the highest caliber, with record-breaking performances and inspiring success stories. Turkey earned its sole medal through Tuğba Danışmaz in the triple jump. The national athlete claimed the gold medal by setting a Turkish record with a jump of 14.31 metres. Nearly 600 athletes from 47 countries competed in the event organized at Ataköy Athletics Hall, hosted by Turkey for the first time.

Tuğba Danışmaz brings Turkey its sole medal in the triple jump

As host nation, Turkey earned its sole medal through Tuğba Danışmaz in the triple jump. The national athlete claimed the gold medal by setting a Turkish record with a jump of 14.31 metres, securing first place. Batuhan Çakır finished in 9th and last place in the men's triple jump final. The men's 4x400 relay team, composed of Oğuzhan Kaya, Berke Akçam, Kubilay Ençü and İsmail Nezir, completed the final in last place despite breaking the Turkish record. Buse Arıkazan in women's pole vault, Şilan Ayyıldız in the 1500 metres, Emine Hatun Mechaal and Yasemin Can in the 3000 metres, Tuğba Toptaş in the 800 metres, Ersu Şaşma in men's pole vault, Emre Zafer Barnes, Ertan Özkan and Kayhan Özer in men's 60 metres, Mikdat Sevler in men's 60 metres hurdles, and Enes Talha Şenses in men's high jump failed to advance to the finals. [caption id="attachment_150080" align="aligncenter"] Tuğba Danışmaz[/caption]

Belgian athlete Nafissatou Thiam delivers the standout achievement

Thiam, gold medallist at the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, broke an 11-year-old world record in women's pentathlon with 5055 points and claimed the gold medal. The 28-year-old athlete reached the top of the podium at the European Indoor Athletics Championships for the third time. The race witnessed a series of record-breaking performances that will go down in championship history. Polish athlete Adrianna Sulek, who finished first in the 800 metres, celebrated breaking the world record with 5014 points, while Thiam, who finished 4th, surpassed the world record within a short space of time with a total of 5055 points.

Laura Muir, Femke Bol and Karsten Warholm claim gold medals

British athlete Laura Muir, competing in the women's 1500 metres, reached the top of the podium with a time of 4:03.40. Muir won her fifth European Indoor Athletics Championships gold medal. Dutch athlete Femke Bol, who holds the world indoor record in women's 400 metres, did not face difficulty with her winning time of 49.85 seconds and successfully defended her title by claiming the gold medal. Norwegian athlete Karsten Warholm, who holds world and Olympic champion titles, managed to reach the finish line first in the men's 400 metres with a time of 45.35 seconds despite struggling in the final stretch, achieving his second European indoor championship title.  

Citizens affected by earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş were not forgotten

Tuğba Danışmaz dedicated the gold medal she won in women's triple jump to earthquake survivors. Emine Hatun Mechaal, who lost many relatives in the earthquakes, stated that she competed for all earthquake survivors at the championship. National athletes noted that Turkey proved its strength to the entire world once again thanks to the mutual aid that followed the earthquakes. Ticket revenues from the event were also donated to earthquake survivors.   Turkey Athletics Federation President Fatih Çintimar stated that despite the difficulties they experienced due to the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, they organized the championship flawlessly and once again proved Turkey's strength. Çintimar continued as follows: "We delivered an incredibly successful event. It was a step toward helping people return to normal life after the earthquakes. All 47 countries that participated in the championship left with joy and incredible feelings. For a country that has suffered such massive destruction to organize such a major event flawlessly was an image that demonstrated Turkey's strength. We were the hand print that emerged from the rubble. The athlete who won the gold medal, Tuğba, was also under our flag. A great championship emerged from the ashes. We have shown all of Europe our country's strength. We thank everyone who supported us."   Source