Taekwondo athlete Mahmut Bozteke is aiming for gold at the Paris Paralympic Games.

Para taekwondo national athlete Mahmut Bozteke, who started his sports career on the recommendation of a physiotherapist due to his disability, brought the first medal to Turkey in the para taekwondo branch. Bozteke, who couldn’t bear the longing for his son, is now working towards winning a gold medal with his son at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

Starting his sports career on the recommendation of a physiotherapist due to his disability, national athlete Mahmut Bozteke (27) won many national and international medals in the past 10 years. Bozteke, who brought the first medal to Turkey in the para taekwondo branch, continues his preparations without interruption during an intense training camp process. Married and a father of one child, Mahmut Bozteke expressed that he used to endure the longing for his wife before, but now that he has a child, he can’t bear to be away from them, bringing them to the training center to be with them at all times. Bozteke aims to achieve the goal he left unfinished previously at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games by targeting the gold medal this time.

“Sports has added a lot to my life”
National para taekwondo athlete Mahmut Bozteke shared his story of starting sports with Ihlas News Agency (IHA) reporter. Bozteke said, “I started sports on the recommendation of my physiotherapist. I was receiving physical therapy due to my disability. I turned to sports upon his recommendation. Later on, I participated in competitions and races. As I achieved success, I started to continue on this path. Sports has added a lot to my life. I socialized, at least I opened up to the world. I met different countries, different people. I socialized and my self-confidence increased. My gains increased. This sport alone has added everything and changed my life,” he said.

Stating that he has achieved many successes in his 10-year para taekwondo career, the national athlete said, “I became the world runner-up twice, world third three times, third in the Paralympic Games, and five-time European champion, and I am the athlete who brought the first medal to our country in para taekwondo.”

“I couldn’t bear the longing more when I had my baby”
Mahmut Bozteke, expressing that he couldn’t bear the longing for his child, stated that being with his wife and children was very good for morale and motivation. Bozteke said, “As always, we are constantly in the camp within sports. We are in a busy period, we have constant training sessions. We are away from family and everyone. I have been away from my wife since we got married. I couldn’t be with her during her pregnancy. And then when the baby arrived, I couldn’t bear the longing for them even more. When there were two people, I brought them with me. Fortunately, our federation also supported in this regard. This situation was very good for me in terms of morale and motivation,” he said.

“I have an unfinished dream”
27-year-old para taekwondo athlete, stating that he wants to fulfill his unfinished dream at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, completed his words as follows: “We have the Paralympic Olympics ahead. I have an unfinished dream. We have received our medals, we also brought the first medal to our country, but our eyes are always on the top. There is no limit to the top. I always want to climb to the top. We want to win the gold medal. Hopefully, when we go there and give our best effort, I want to win the gold medal if it is meant for us.”