Athletes from the Near East University Sports Club, who trained for the Turkish Inter-Sportive Long Course Star, Youth, and Open Swimming Championships at the Near East University Olympic Swimming Pool, broke Northern Cyprus records in five different categories and won two medals. In the 50-meter freestyle category, the 20-year-old TRNC 14-year-old record was shattered!
The Near East University Sports Club athletes made the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and their clubs proud with their achievements in Turkey. Near East University Sports Club swimmers Akman Tüzünkan, Özkan Mazhar, and Barkan Cem Aykut won two medals at the Turkish Inter-Sportive Clubs Long Course Star, Youth, and Open Swimming Championships held in Turkey, setting new Northern Cyprus records in all five categories. In the 50-meter freestyle category, Akman Tüzünkan came fifth in Turkey with a time of 26.03, breaking the 20-year-old TRNC 14-year-old record.

The athletes, who trained throughout the season at the Near East University Olympic Swimming Pool for the championship, held by the Turkish Swimming Federation from August 5-9, 2025, returned home with significant individual honors.

The TRNC national mixed team, consisting of Barkan Cem Aykut and Akman Tüzünkan, also achieved another significant success by breaking the TRNC record for 19+ year-olds in the 4×50-meter medley relay.

The two athletes also impressed on the team level. Five Medal Records!
Akman Tüzünkan, who finished fifth in Turkey with a time of 26.03 in the 50-meter freestyle, broke the 20-year-old TRNC 14-year-old record set in 2005. The successful swimmer won another medal with a time of 30.30 in the 50-meter backstroke, finishing sixth in Turkey. Another Near East University Sports Club athlete, Özkan Mazhar, broke the TRNC long course record for 14-year-olds in the 200-meter medley. Barkan Cem Aykut broke the TRNC record for 15-, 16-, 17-, and 18-year-olds in the 200-meter breaststroke and the 15-, 16-, 17-, and 18-year-olds in the 100-meter breaststroke, further improving his record-at the championship.

The young record holders of the Near East University Sports Club, who made a great success in competitions organized by the Turkish Swimming Federation and the Northern Cyprus Aquatic Sports Federation throughout the season, trained by Avni Cankurt, one of the instructors at the East University Olympic Swimming Pool.

Each of them trained with great discipline!
Avni Cankurt stated that the athletes got ready for the long-course competitions in the internationally standard facilities and scientific training programs of the Near East University Olympic Swimming Pool. He said, “Each of them trained with great discipline and dedication, achieving five records and two medals at the Turkish Championships. Breaking a record that hadn’t been broken for 20 years was a symbol of this success.”

Cankurt stated that each of his athletes trained tirelessly to prepare for the tournament despite the intense training schedule. He said, “Our greatest pride is that they represented Northern Cyprus in Turkey in the best possible way and brought these records and medals to our country.”