‘Golden’ Girl of Taekwondo
Hatice Pınar Yiğitalp, a national taekwondo athlete and student at Izmir University of Economics (IUE), has risen to 1st place in Europe and 2nd place globally in the overall senior rankings for the 62 kg category. Having won gold medals by leaving her rivals behind in her last three championships, Yiğitalp has set her new goal on reaching the top at the European Championship to be held in Croatia in December. Carrying her success in sports into her academic life as well, Yiğitalp continues her education at the IUE Department of Psychology. Yiğitalp stated: “My biggest dream is to compete in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles and fly our crescent-and-star flag on the world’s largest sports stage. To achieve this, I need to work very hard and defeat my opponents. I believe in myself, and I have no intention of stopping until I succeed.”
Living in Izmir, our national pride Hatice Pınar Yiğitalp was introduced to sports at the age of just 4 through gymnastics. Never straying from sports since childhood, Yiğitalp practiced gymnastics for three years before transitioning to taekwondo at her family’s suggestion. Enrolled in taekwondo by her parents, Ali and Sevilay Yiğitalp, with the thought that their daughter will stay healthy through sports and also learn self-defense, she proved her talent in a short time. At the age of 8, Yiğitalp reached the top in her very first championship, becoming the Aegean Regional Champion. Taking the first step in a career filled with medals, Yiğitalp achieved consecutive first-place finishes across Turkey, earning the right to become a national athlete in 2018.
TRAINING 6 DAYS A WEEK
Yiğitalp’s outstanding success in her athletic career also opened up significant opportunities for her academic growth. Benefiting from the National Athlete Scholarship provided by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the national athlete earned a spot in the Department of Psychology under the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Izmir University of Economics in 2024. Preparing for championships by training 6 days a week, Yiğitalp set an example for her peers by gaining immense appreciation for her academic performance, despite her demanding schedule and frequent overseas travel. Having won gold medals at championships held in Germany and Poland in September, and Albania in October, as well as securing a silver medal at the Multi European Games held in Serbia last month, Yiğitalp has accelerated her preparations for the Olympics in Los Angeles, USA.
“BEING TALENTED IS NOT ENOUGH”
Expressing that taekwondo is a profound passion that changed her perspective on life, Yiğitalp shared that through years of hard work, she learned to be disciplined, not to give up in the face of adversity, to be patient, and to trust herself in every situation. Emphasizing that sports contribute positively to every area of her life, Yiğitalp said, “I know that success does not come by chance; behind every medal lies immense effort, sacrifice, and determination. I have an intense training regimen. I train six days a week. On some days, I have to do double sessions to increase my physical endurance and improve myself technically and tactically. Currently, I am ranked 1st in Europe and 2nd in the world in the seniors overall category at 62 kg. By securing consecutive titles in recent championships, I boosted my points and took the top spot. My coach, Murat Işık, also supports me greatly; he plays a major role in this success. At the same time, I make sure not to neglect my university studies. Of course, there are days when I get tired and want to make time for myself. However, when I think about my goals, I get motivated all over again. Because if you want to be successful in the international arena, being talented alone is not enough; you must plan your entire life around this goal.”
“IT TAUGHT ME DISCIPLINE AND TIME MANAGEMENT”
Yiğitalp continued as follows, “Studying psychology at Izmir University of Economics has given me a different perspective on my athletic career. I believe mental toughness is just as important as physical strength and technical skill in taekwondo. Thanks to my education, I have begun to better understand human behavior, emotions, and the impact of stress on performance. I especially feel that what I’ve learned helps me control pre-competition nerves, make the right decisions under pressure, and stay focused during difficult moments. The discipline and time management skills that sports have taught me also make my academic life easier. That is why I believe sports and education reinforce each other.”
“THERE ARE MANY MEDALS I WANT TO WIN”
Stating that wearing the national team jersey is a source of immense pride, Yiğitalp said, “Hearing our National Anthem play and watching our flag raised after a championship win makes me forget all the fatigue and hardships I’ve experienced. It is truly difficult to put into words the pride I feel at that moment. The achievements I have made so far are very valuable to me, but I do not consider them enough. After every championship, I evaluate my shortcomings and work to prepare stronger for the next competition. I have many more medals I want to win and much bigger goals I want to reach. I want to continue my success at European and World Championships and represent my country at the Olympics to win a medal. I am aware this won’t be easy, but I trust myself. My greatest wish is to look back years from now as someone who pursued her dreams to the fullest in both sports and education. As long as I can make my country proud and inspire young athletes, all these sacrifices will have been worth it.”
