Sevilay Öztürk

Sevilay Öztürk (born 28 November 2003) is a Turkish Paralympic swimmer. She competes in the disability category of S5 in freestyle, backstroke and butterfly, specializing in sprint events. She competed in the 2016 Summer Paralympics.

Sevilay Öztürk

Öztürk in 2021 Islamic Solidarity Games
Personal information
Full name	Sevilay Öztürk
Nationality	Turkish
Born	(2003-11-28) 28 November 2003 (age 21) Kahramanmaraş, Turkey
Height	1.45 m (4 ft 9 in)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Freestyle, backstroke, butterfly
Club	Kahramanmaraş Municipality SC
Coach	Ali Uzun
Medal record Paralympic swimming Representing  Turkey Paralympic Games 2020 Tokyo 50 m backstroke S5 2024 Paris 50 m butterfly S5 World Championships 2022 Madeira 50 m backstroke S5 2022 Madeira 50 m butterfly S5 2019 London 50 m butterfly S5 2023 Manchester 50 m butterfly S5 European Championships 2018 Dublin 50 m backstroke S5 2021 Madeira 50 m backstroke S5 2021 Madeira 50 m butterfly S5 2021 Madeira 50 metre freestyle S5 2021 Madeira 100 metre freestyle S5 2020 Funchal 50 metre freestyle S5 2020 Funchal 200 metre freestyle S5 Islamic Solidarity Games 2021 Konya 50 m freestyle (S4-S10) 2021 Konya 50 m butterfly (S5-S7) 2021 Konya 100 m freestyle (S4-S10) 2021 Konya 200 m freestyle (S4-S5) 2021 Konya 50 m backstroke (S4-S5) European Para Youth Games 2017 Liguria 50 m backstroke S5

Personal history

Sevilay Öztürk was born to Bülent Öztürk and Hülya as their first child on 28 November 2003.^[1] She has no arms as a birth defect (bilateral congenital upper extremity agenesis).^[2][3]

Very much supported by her father, she was schooled in the neighborhood. She learned to use her foot for writing.^[4]

Swimming career

Öztürk began swimming in 2010 after she met Beytullah Eroğlu at a hospital in her hometown, the successful national Paralympic swimmer, who has also bilateral limb deficiency.^[3][4] She began with regular swimming exercise in 2013. She won three gold and two silver medals in the national Para swimming championships.^[4] She internationally debuted at the 30th International German Championships in Berlin in June 2016.^[3][5] She was qualified for the 2016 Summer Paralympics, and represented her country in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She was the youngest competitor at all. She failed to capture any medal. She took part at the 2017 European Para Youth Games held in Liguria, Italy, and won the gold medal in the 50 m Backstroke S5 event.^[2]

Öztürk's disability swimming classification is S5 due to her limb deficiency as a birth defect.^[2] The 1.45 m (4 ft 9 in) tall Para swimmer is coached by Ali Uzun in Kahramanmaraş Munispality SC.^[3]

At the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships in London, U.K., she won the bronze medal in the 50 m butterfly S5 event with a time of 47.35.^[6]

She was named as one of two flag bearers along with Mahmut Bozteke by the Turkish National Paralympic Committee to lead the Turkish contingent for the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Paralympics.^[7]

Achievements

Competition	Place	Event	Rank	Time	Ref
30th International German Championships	Germany, Berlin	50 m Freestyle S5	Heats	56.57	[5]
		50 m Butterfly Youth S5	5	52.87
		100 m Freestyle S5	Heats	2:10.39
		100 m Backstroke Time Trial S5		2:09.96
2016 Paralympic Games	Brazil, Rio de Janeiro	50 m Freestyle S5	8	50.34	[1]
		50 m Butterfly S5	5	50.14
		50 m Backstroke S5	6	50.19
		100 m Freestyle S5	Heats	1:54.87
2017 European Para Youth Games	Italy, Liguria	50 m Freestyle S5	4	46.60	[8]
		50 m Backstroke S5		46.70
2019 World Para Swimming Championships	United Kingdom London	50 m Butterfly S5		47.35	[6]
		50 m Backstroke S5	8th	50.54	[9]