İlke Özyüksel, the first athlete to represent Turkey in modern pentathlon at the Olympics, is the third recipient of the Mustafa V. Koç Sports Award. Her inspiring journey is both a story of perseverance and a powerful example of commitment to Olympic values.
İlke’s story begins in Altındağ, Ankara. Although she initially showed interest in swimming, a chance opportunity led her to try out for the pentathlon. Her exceptional running skills immediately stood out. She was soon selected for the national team and, at just 9 years old, became the world champion in her age category. From that moment on, the medals kept coming.
As she rose in this lesser-known sport, İlke had to overcome many obstacles on her own. She faced pressure to quit pentathlon and focus on a single discipline. Just two months before the Youth Olympics, her coach left, forcing her to train alone. Despite this, she placed 5th at the Games. At the same time, she was battling a hemangioma she developed in childhood. As her career progressed, she underwent a series of surgeries that gradually healed the visible marks on her face.
The turning point in her athletic journey came during training camps in Hungary, supported by the Ministry of Youth and Sports. There, she received proper training for the first time and truly learned the system of modern pentathlon. This experience helped her become the leading figure in the sport in Turkey. Ultimately, after a long and challenging path, İlke achieved what many thought impossible: she passed the trials for the 2016 Rio Olympics, becoming Turkey’s first Olympic representative in modern pentathlon.
Perhaps because of the hardships she’s endured, İlke has always seen herself as someone who wants to make a positive impact. Perhaps it's because she's always lived by the Olympic values of friendship, respect, and excellence... In many ways, she shares the same spirit as the late Mustafa V. Koç.
We are proud of İlke and wish her the best at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. No matter how she performs, we know she’ll continue to push boundaries, inspire others, and pave the way for future generations.
