When Mete Gazoz released the arrow that brought home Turkey’s first Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Games, we were all watching, eyes fixed on the screen. A year later, when he shared the 6th Mustafa V. Koç Sports Award with our Women’s National Volleyball Team, we were once again in front of our screens—this time for the virtual ceremony.
Mete Gazoz has won our hearts not just with his incredible athletic achievements, but also with his character. It’s been a long time since Turkey has seen such a beloved athlete outside the world of football. And when you get to know Mete, it’s easy to understand why.
To Mete, archery is the sport of "truth, honesty, and justice." “The arrow flies straight—it doesn’t lie,” he says. At a young age, during a competition, he objected when his opponent’s arrow was disqualified, making sure they took first place instead. He quietly packed up and went home. At the time, he had no idea—but he was already becoming a voice for the Olympic values.
As a child, he would sneak out of bed in the middle of the night to join his father, Metin Gazoz—a former archer himself—for practice sessions in their living room. He began training with the bow and arrows his father crafted specially for him. In 2013, he made a shot at the Youth Olympics that thrust him into the spotlight. That was the moment Mete decided he wanted to be an archer—and to feel that joy over and over again.
Like many great athletes, his journey hasn’t been without hardship. He faced many ups and downs, and even struggled with a speech impediment. Before the Rio 2016 Olympics, a drop in performance nearly made him quit archery entirely. But with the support of his family and coach, he pushed through. What followed were world championships and, ultimately, Olympic gold in Tokyo. Today, he stands not only as an Olympic champion, but also as a co-recipient of the Mustafa V. Koç Sports Award alongside the Women’s National Volleyball Team.
But Mete’s impact goes beyond medals. His coach, Sermet Çınar, came up with a unique way for him to celebrate his victories—a gesture that soon became a phenomenon: The Most Olympic Act. It turned into a symbol of triumph embraced not just across Turkey, but by archery fans around the world. Because Mete isn’t just an Olympic gold medalist. He is the face of friendship, respect, and excellence—in other words, the spirit of the Olympic Games.
