In the two-day Junior and Stars Swimming Championship Short Course (25m) races organized by the Ministry of National Education (M.E.B.) on March 17-18, 2025, Near East College students attracted attention with their superior performance. The Near East College Swimming Team, which stood out in the championship with its great success, prepared for the races with intensive training carried out at the Near East University Olympic Swimming Pool.

Near East College students took the podium with team and individual achievements in many categories throughout the tournament. Akman Tüzünkan, Erten Kasımoğlu, Erten Can Kasımoğlu, Erol Baycan, Hasan Türker, Sait Meriç Sayıner took the strokes in the Near East College Males Swimming Team; The females’ team consisted of Hatice Kofalı, Zehra Aydener, Alvina Hale Aykut, Nehir Yasakçı.

They Made Their Mark in the Relay Races!

The Near East College swimming team, which made significant success in individual and team races for two consecutive days, got the first place in the males’ categories of the 4×100-meter mixed relay and 4×100-meter freestyle relay races. While the boys won gold medals in both categories, the girls won silver in the 4×100-meter mixed relay and bronze in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay.

They were impressive with their individual performances!

The young athletes of Near East College were impressive with their team performances. When we look at their individual performances, one of the most striking athletes of the championship was Akman Tüzünkan, an 8th year student of Near East College. Tüzünkan, who won three gold medals in the 50-meter freestyle, butterfly and backstroke categories, also won his fourth individual gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle category.

With his performance, promising young athletes Erten Kasımoğlu won the gold medal in the 400-meter freestyle category and also took the podium in the 100-meter butterfly category. Erten Can Kasımoğlu also won two silver medals in the 200-meter breaststroke and freestyle categories and won the bronze medal in the 100-meter breaststroke.

The courage of the little ones was applauded!

In the primary school category, Near East Primary School students Seren Kasımoğlu, Emirzade Esengin and Toprak Kılıçaslan successfully represented their schools under the guidance of their coach Şerife Tıbık. Seren Kasımoğlu made us proud by winning the bronze medal in the 200-meter freestyle. The little athletes, who received great appreciation from the audience with the determination they showed throughout the race, proved that they can be among the successful swimmers of the future.

Avni Cankurt: “They proved their talent once again with their success, I congratulate all our athletes!”

Near East University Olympic Swimming Pool Manager Avni Cankurt stated that the high performances shown in individual and team categories in the championship were a result of the disciplined and devoted work of the students. Stating that they are working to achieve greater success in the swimming branch, Cankurt said, “We provide our athletes with the opportunity to train at the highest possible level at the Near East University Olympic Swimming Pool. While contributing to athletes taking their performance to the highest level with its renewed modern infrastructure, we will continue to develop the talents of our youth with training programs implemented with scientific methods.” Cankurt said, “Our swimmers, while winning the championship with the training they received here, proved their talents once again with the records they have broken, I wholeheartedly congratulate all our athletes.”