Turkey ends promising swimming competition

CHARTRES, France

In this file photo, Turkish swimmer Arda Gürdal celebrates after competing in the men’s 100-meter freestyle in the 2012 London Olympic Games. EPA photo

Turkey had a promising European Short Course Swimming Championships campaign ahead of next month’s world championships.

Turkish swimmers set 22 national records as the championships wrapped up in Chartres, France on Nov. 25. Turkish swimmers advanced to the finals 13 times, a postive result for a country with little tradition in the sport.

The Turkish Swimming Federation chairman Ahmet Bozdoğan hailed the result as promising.

“Our athletes set new records after records in the heats and in the finals,” Bozdoğan told the Anatolia News Agency. “That fast improvement is promising us for the future. I believe that the medals will come soon if we keep it this way.”

A particular highlight has been Burcu Dolunay’s fourth finish in the women’s 100-meter freestyle swimming, barely missing out on a medal.

Buse Günaydın, who swam finals in three different categories, finished sixth in the women’s 200-meter final. Arda Gürdal, İskender Baslakov, Melisa Akarsu, İris Rosenberger were the other finalists, while Turkey advanced to the finals in five relay categories.