Hakan Akkaya: A Lasting System Goal in Wheelchair Fencing

At the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Hakan Akkaya won bronze in wheelchair fencing, bringing Turkey its first Paralympic medal in this discipline. The national athlete said he is aiming for gold at Los Angeles 2028 and believes this is a realistic goal. He also noted that most recently, at the European Championship held in Cardiff, he won bronze in foil and silver in epee.

Akkaya said he has been involved in wheelchair fencing for 15 years and has won more than 40 medals in international competitions. He described how he started the discipline through the first initiatives launched in Nilufer district of Bursa, and said his coach Saban Sozer encouraged him. He also said that when he made the decision, the influence of Nazmiye Muslu, who won gold in weightlifting at the 2012 London Paralympic Games, was very strong.

The athlete's greatest dream is to leave behind a system with both women's and men's teams when he ends his career. Akkaya noted that steps are being taken to develop the infrastructure for wheelchair fencing in Turkey, and said that even though his athletic career will end, he wants to continue working for his country.

Akkaya also sent a message to people with disabilities. Emphasizing the importance of facing life's challenges and discovering one's own abilities, he stressed that physical limitations do not prevent a person from producing and learning.