Started to protect herself, became a champion

Enrolling to the Department of Psychology at Izmir University of Economics in 2024 with a National Athlete Scholarship by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, 18-year-old Hatice Pınar Yiğitalp began her sports journey at age 4 with gymnastics. She pursued gymnastics for three years before shifting to taekwondo at her family's encouragement.

FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP AT AGE 8

Hatice Pınar Yiğitalp, the daughter of Ali and Sevilay Yiğitalp, quickly demonstrated her talent in taekwondo, which she began as her parents believed it would ‘help her stay healthy while learning self-defense’. At age 8, she participated in her first championship and won the title, becoming the Aegean Region champion.

CONGRATULATIONS FROM RECTOR ABACIOĞLU

After taking her first steps toward a medal-filled career, Yiğitalp consistently claimed first-place titles across Turkey and earned the status of a national athlete in 2018. Adding a European third place to her achievements, Yiğitalp proved that sports and education can go hand in hand by gaining admission to her dream program, Psychology at IUE. The Rector Prof. Dr. Yusuf Hakan Abacıoğlu congratulated Yiğitalp for her success, expressing his belief that the young athlete would achieve further victories in upcoming championships and bring great pride to the University.

GYMNASTICS MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE

Hatice Pınar Yiğitalp, who lives in the Bayraklı district of Izmir, said that her victory at the Turkish Senior Taekwondo Championships in Ankara gave her a significant morale boost. Expressing that she trains twice a day four days a week and once a day on two other days, Yiğitalp mentioned her desire to win international medals for Turkey. Yiğitalp said, “I started sports with gymnastics at the age of 4, and I’m glad I did. Gymnastics helped me develop flexibility and adapt to training intensity, which made it easier for me to succeed in taekwondo. My father, who used to practice karate, was the one who most encouraged me to start taekwondo. I love taekwondo as well. After all, you can’t succeed in a sport you don’t love.”

‘ARE WE SAFE AROUND YOU?’ THEY ASK

Noting the growing interest in taekwondo in recent times, Yiğitalp said, “When I tell people around me that I do taekwondo, they’re often surprised and sometimes don’t believe it. After we talk a bit, they joke, asking, ‘Are we safe around you?’ or ‘You won’t hurt me, will you?’ I’m used to it. Of course, taekwondo is by no means a violent sport, and I often emphasize that it shouldn’t be associated with violence. When I do double training sessions, I train for 4 hours a day; with single sessions, it’s 2 hours. There’s still plenty of time for studying and socializing. The key is to plan the day properly. Thanks to sports, I’ve learned to manage my time effectively.”

MENTAL STRENGTH IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS PHYSICAL STRENGTH

Explaining why she chose to study psychology and how it will benefit her, Yiğitalp said, “It should be remembered that mental strength is just as important as physical strength. In this regard, I believe psychology supports sports. For example, all athletes participating in the Olympics work hard and are in good physical condition. However, mental strength plays a crucial role in the process. A person who is mentally well-prepared, in addition to being physically strong, can achieve success more easily. I want to specialize in the field of sports psychology. After graduation, I aim to stand out not only with my sports career but also with my career in psychology.”