Turkish Women Wrestlers Make History at the 2026 Mediterranean Games
Turkey’s women’s wrestling team achieved its strongest-ever performance in Mediterranean Games history at the 20th edition of the event in Taranto. The national squad reached the final in all six women’s weight categories, winning four gold medals and two silver medals.
This result marked a significant milestone for Turkish women’s wrestling. Never before had Turkish female wrestlers advanced to the final in every category entered at the Mediterranean Games. Their outstanding performance also made a major contribution to Turkey’s overall medal total.
According to the Turkish Wrestling Federation, Turkey finished the Taranto 2026 wrestling competition with 15 medals: eight gold, three silver and four bronze. Four of those gold medals and two silver medals came from the women’s team, underlining the growing strength and depth of female wrestling in the country.
Perfect final-round performance in four categories
Zehra Demirhan secured the gold medal in the women’s 50-kilogram division, while Zeynep Yetgil Kamal triumphed at 53 kilograms. Elvira Süleyman Kamaloğlu continued Turkey’s successful run by winning the 57-kilogram title.
Nesrin Baş completed the team’s gold-medal haul in the women’s 68-kilogram category. The remaining two finalists, Ebru Dağbaşı and Kadriye Aksoy Koçak, delivered silver-medal performances at 62 and 76 kilograms respectively.
The fact that all six Turkish women competitors reached the championship match demonstrated the team’s consistency across different weight classes. It also showed that the success was not based on a single standout athlete, but on a broad and competitive squad.
Complete list of Turkish medalists
Turkey’s gold-medal winners at the tournament were:
– Zehra Demirhan – women’s 50 kg
– Zeynep Yetgil Kamal – women’s 53 kg
– Elvira Süleyman Kamaloğlu – women’s 57 kg
– Nesrin Baş – women’s 68 kg
– Muhammed Karavuş – men’s freestyle 57 kg
– Ahmet Duman – men’s freestyle 65 kg
– Hakan Büyükçıngıl – men’s freestyle 125 kg
– Yunus Emre Başar – Greco-Roman 77 kg
The silver medalists were:
– Ebru Dağbaşı – women’s 62 kg
– Kadriye Aksoy Koçak – women’s 76 kg
– İsmail Küçüksolak – men’s freestyle 86 kg
Turkey also won four bronze medals. Yasin Yeşil finished third in freestyle at 74 kilograms, Resul Güne earned bronze at 97 kilograms, Murat Fırat placed third in Greco-Roman wrestling at 67 kilograms, and Doğan Kaya took bronze in the 87-kilogram category.
A turning point for women’s wrestling
The Taranto results are particularly important because women’s wrestling in Turkey has expanded rapidly in recent years. More athletes are now competing successfully at international level, while national teams are building greater depth in both technical quality and competitive experience.
Reaching six finals in one Mediterranean Games competition provides an important confidence boost ahead of larger international tournaments. It also gives younger wrestlers a clear example of what can be achieved through sustained preparation, disciplined training and international competition.
The four gold medals carry significance beyond the final standings. Each victory reflects the development of women’s wrestling programs, the work of coaches and support teams, and the growing investment in female athletes. The two silver medals further confirm that Turkey’s strength extends across multiple categories.
Strong contribution to Turkey’s overall result
Although the women’s team attracted particular attention, Turkey’s overall wrestling performance was also highly successful. The national team collected medals in women’s wrestling, freestyle wrestling and Greco-Roman wrestling, producing a balanced result across all three disciplines.
The eight gold medals represented the foundation of Turkey’s campaign. The additional three silver and four bronze medals demonstrated the team’s competitiveness even in categories where it did not reach the top of the podium.
For Turkish wrestling, the 15-medal total at Taranto 2026 stands as one of the competition’s most notable results. The women’s team, however, created the clearest historic landmark by achieving a clean sweep of final appearances in all six entered categories.
New expectations after the record result
This breakthrough is likely to raise expectations for Turkey’s women wrestlers in future continental and global competitions. Success at the Mediterranean Games can provide valuable momentum, but maintaining that level will require continued support, regular high-level tournaments and careful athlete development.
The national team’s performance also strengthens the visibility of women’s wrestling among Turkish sports fans. As more female athletes win international medals, wrestling is becoming an increasingly important part of Turkey’s wider women’s sports success.
Taranto 2026 will therefore be remembered not only for the medals won, but also for the scale of the achievement. Four gold medals, two silver medals and six final appearances established a new benchmark for Turkish women’s wrestling at the Mediterranean Games.