Owner of 100 medals

Bengü Aktarmaç, student of Department of Psychology, Izmir University of Economics (IUE), started swimming as a hobby when she was only 7 years old, and in short time she became a member of the Fenerbahçe Sports Club and made her way into the National Team. Aktarmaç, who has achieved a hard-to-reach success in the competitions she has participated in since middle school and won nearly 100 medals so far and representing our country in 2019 and ranked 4th in the "breaststroke" technique, determined the Olympics as her goal. Having benefited from the full athlete scholarship provided by IUE, Aktarmaç, who started university this year, said, “I put a lot of effort into swimming, I want to progress in this area. But education is also very important. I always wanted to study psychology and I reached my goal. Sports and education do not clash but complement each other. I want to be an example by achieving success in both areas.”

18-year-old Bengü Aktarmaç, who lives in Narlıdere, Izmir, started swimming in Kocaeli when she was in primary school. Aktarmaç started to improve herself by taking lessons from swimming coaches in the pool initially, and quickly climbed the ladder of success. Aktarmaç, who had to leave Kocaeli after a while due to his father's profession, did not give up her passion for swimming. Aktarmaç, who continued her practices even after she came to Izmir, attracted attention by winning successively in the tournaments she participated in middle school and high school.

SHE CARRIED HER SUCCESS IN SPORTS TO EDUCATION

Having competed in the Balkan Youth Swimming Championship last year and ranked fourth in the 200 meters category and being also a member of Fenerbahçe Sports Club, Aktarmaç carried her success in sports to education. Aktarmaç, who trained for about 3 hours every day and went out of the city when there was a competition, focused on her education in her time after sports, and got into the psychology department she had wanted since her childhood.

I USED TO PUT ON MY SWIMMING ARMBANDS AND JUMP INTO THE SEA

Stating that her interest in swimming triggered her success in education, Aktarmaç said, “When I was a kid I wouldn't get out of the water in the summer. I was eager to go to the sea with my family, I would put on my armbands and jump into the water and stay there for hours. I could not imagine that my interest in swimming in my childhood would advance to the National Team and even earn me a scholarship at my university. I am very happy that I am successful in swimming and that I have the opportunity to study in the department I want. Tournaments have been a little disrupted due to the pandemic, but there are still times when I go out of town for competitions. I practice 3-4 hours a day in the pool to keep in form. Since our university provides online education, even if I miss classes from time to time, I can listen again whenever I want to keep up with my lessons.”

SUCCESS FORMULA

Aktarmaç continued as follows: “Sports and education do not clash but complement each other. I believe I proved this. Academic education is very important for me, I will always focus on my lessons. But I will not give up on sports.  Like many athletes of my age, my biggest goal is to take part in the Olympics and represent my country. I am continuing my practices to achieve this goal. I eat healthy, maintain a good sleep cycle and care about what I do. I act with the awareness that everything has a rule and I must obey them. I think this is the secret of my success. Sports discipline and organize my life. This way, I stay fit and find time to study.”