Defne Kurt is a Turkish national para swimmer. She was born in Istanbul in 2000. She received her secondary education at Bahçeşehir College and began her sporting career within the Galatasaray Sports Club. She completed her higher education at the Department of Psychology at Yeditepe University. As a national para swimmer representing Türkiye on international platforms, she competes in the S10 category, which is defined as the classification for athletes with the least severe physical impairments.

Start of Sporting Career and Early Years

Defne Kurt’s swimming career began at a young age, and she achieved her first international success at the 2018 Multinations Junior Swimming Championships held in Graz, Austria. In the 200 metre backstroke event, she finished third with a time of 2:21.05, winning a bronze medal. This achievement was the first signal of her future prominence within the Turkish para swimming community.

World Championship Achievements

The 2025 World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore marked a turning point in Defne Kurt’s career. At the event, she won gold medals in the 50 metre freestyle, 100 metre butterfly, 200 metre individual medley, 100 metre freestyle and 100 metre backstroke events. She thus became the first Turkish athlete to win five gold medals across five different disciplines at a single World Championship.

One of her most remarkable performances was her time of 1:03.91 in the 100 metre butterfly S10 event. Not only did this secure her a gold medal, but it also broke the European record. In the 100 metre freestyle S10 category, she set a new championship record with a time of 59.08, bringing her total medal count to four.

Place in Turkish Para Swimming History

Defne Kurt is the third Turkish athlete to win a world championship title in para swimming, following Beytullah Eroğlu (2017) and Sümeyye Boyacı (2022). However, as the first Turkish swimmer to win five gold medals at a single World Championship, she has secured a unique position in Turkish swimming history.

Official Recognition and Institutional Acknowledgment

Defne Kurt’s extraordinary performance at the World Championships received recognition not only within the sports community but also at the state level. Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak officially congratulated the national athlete for her five gold medals and record-breaking performances. The ministry’s statement emphasized that Defne Kurt had brought pride to Türkiye through this historic achievement.

Academic and Social Life

Kurt, who is pursuing her psychology studies at Yeditepe University, has placed great importance on her academic career alongside her sporting achievements. Through her psychological education, she has gained mastery over mental resilience and focus—the psychological aspects of sport. This has been a crucial factor in her success in high-level competitive environments.