Turkey has won a total of 104 medals across various disciplines in the history of the Summer Olympic Games, thanks to 84 different athletes. In the 33rd Summer Olympic Games in Paris, Turkey will be represented by 102 athletes competing in 18 different events.
The Paris Olympics will mark Turkey's 24th participation in the Games. Throughout its Olympic history, Turkey has earned 41 gold, 27 silver, and 36 bronze medals.
First Medal in Wrestling
Turkey won its first Olympic medal in wrestling. Turkish athletes did not win any medals in their first four Olympic appearances. The first moment of triumph came at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where wrestler Ahmet Kireççi won a bronze medal, becoming the first Turkish athlete to stand on the Olympic podium.
Turkey's first gold medal also came from wrestling. At the same 1936 Berlin Olympics, wrestler Yaşar Erkan won the gold in the 61 kg freestyle category.
First Women's Medal in 1992
Turkey's first medal in women's events came at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Judoka Hülya Şenyurt won a bronze medal, becoming the first Turkish woman to win an Olympic medal. Weightlifter Nurcan Taylan won Turkey's first gold medal in women's events at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Wrestling: The Most Successful Sport
Wrestling is Turkey's most successful sport in the Olympics, accounting for 66 of the 104 medals won by Turkish athletes. Turkish wrestlers have won 29 gold, 18 silver, and 19 bronze medals.
Additionally, Turkish athletes have won 11 medals in weightlifting, 9 in taekwondo, 7 in boxing, 4 in karate, 3 in athletics, 2 in judo, and 1 each in archery and gymnastics.
Naim Süleymanoğlu and Halil Mutlu's Golden Streaks
Weightlifters Naim Süleymanoğlu and Halil Mutlu, each with three gold medals, are the most successful Turkish Olympians. Naim Süleymanoğlu won gold at the 1988 Seoul, 1992 Barcelona, and 1996 Atlanta Olympics, making history in both Turkish and world sports.
Halil Mutlu replicated this success by winning gold at the 1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney, and 2004 Athens Olympics.
Men's Dominance in Medal Count
Of the 104 medals Turkey has won in the Olympics, 93 were won by male athletes, while female athletes have won 11 medals. Turkish women have secured 2 gold, 3 silver, and 6 bronze medals.
Eighty-four different Turkish athletes have experienced the joy of winning an Olympic medal.
