Aysel Önder’s life has been shaped by her passion for sports and determination despite her intellectual disability. Born in the İskenderun district of Hatay, Önder showed interest in football during childhood and, guided by her teachers, turned to athletics. With the support of her family and guidance from her teachers, she embarked on her sporting career while continuing to develop academically and athletically. Educated in Hatay, Önder distinguished herself in local and national competitions as a specially classified athlete, laying the foundation for her international achievements.

Early Life and Education

Aysel Önder was born on 24 June 2005 in the İskenderun district of Hatay. She completed her primary and secondary education in İzmir. As a young child, Önder was involved in football but, under the guidance of her teachers, shifted to athletics. Continuing her education in Hatay, she gained recognition for her athletic talent and achieved success at local and national levels as a specially classified athlete. Her performance in athletics initiated her journey toward the Paralympic level. In 2024, she was admitted to the Coaching Education Department of the Faculty of Sports Sciences at Ege University due to her results in championships.

Sporting Career

Aysel Önder began her athletics career at a young age. Competing in the T20 classification, she achieved notable results in numerous national and international tournaments. In 2024, she represented Türkiye at the Summer Paralympic Games in Paris.

At the event, she qualified for the final of the women’s 400 metres T20 category with a time of 54.96 seconds, breaking both the world and Paralympic records. In the final, she won the silver medal with a time of 55.23 seconds. With this achievement, she became the first Turkish female athlete to win a medal in the 400 metres T20 category at the Paralympic Games.

Additionally, at the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan, she won a silver medal in the 400 metres T20 category with a time of 55.19 seconds.

At the 2024 Virtus World Indoor Athletics Championships in Reims, France, she won gold in the 400 metres with a time of 57.54 seconds, setting a new world indoor record. At the same championship, she won silver in the 200 metres with a time of 25.12 seconds and gold in the 4x200 metres relay with a time of 1:46.82, setting another world indoor record.

At the 2024 Virtus European Athletics Championships in Uppsala, Sweden, she won gold in the 400 metres with a time of 57.54 seconds. At the same championship, she won gold in the 200 metres with a time of 24.87 seconds, breaking the European record; gold in the 4x100 metres relay with a time of 49.93 seconds, breaking the world record; gold in the 4x200 metres mixed relay with a time of 1:38.69, breaking the European record; and gold in the 4x400 metres relay with a time of 4:09.91.

In 2025, at the VIRTUS European Indoor Athletics Championships in Espoo, Finland, she won gold in the T20 400 metres with a time of 56.17 seconds, breaking both the European and world indoor records.

Club Career

Aysel Önder competes for the athletics team of ENKA Sports Club. Her coach is Damla Tan. She continues to achieve her successes under the banner of this club.

Achievements

Aysel Önder at the Virtus World Indoor Athletics Championships (AA)

2026 Virtus World Indoor Athletics Championships

Aysel Önder won gold at the Virtus World Indoor Athletics Championships held in Ourense, Spain, in the T20 200 metres event with a time of 24.87 seconds, breaking the European record.

According to the announcement by the Turkish Special Athletes Sports Federation, Önder competed in the T20 200 metres event on the final day of the competition and completed it in 24.87 seconds. This time was officially registered as a European record, securing her the world championship title.

Birol Aydın, President of the Turkish Special Athletes Sports Federation, stated that this result was a significant achievement for Turkish special athletes and congratulated the athlete’s coach, Damla Tan. He also affirmed that the continued success of special athletes in international competitions will be sustained.