Mizgin Ay (born 22 June 2000) is a Turkish national athlete specializing in sprint events (100 metres and 200 metres). Ay began her sporting career in the district of Nallıhan in Ankara and continues her professional career under the banner of Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü. She became Türkiye’s first world champion at this level in athletics history after winning the gold medal in the 100 metres at the 2017 World Youth Athletics Championships held in Nairobi.

Mizgin Ay(Anadolu Ajansı)

Early Life and Education

Mizgin Ay was born as the daughter of a family with seven children. She began her involvement in athletics in the district of Nallıhan in Ankara under the coaching of Muhsin Soysal. Ay conducted her early training on local tracks with limited facilities. After her talent was recognized, she took the step into professional sport. For higher education she chose the Coaching Education Department of the Faculty of Sports Sciences at Bartın University and pursued her academic studies alongside her athletic career.

Sporting Career and International Achievements

The turning point in Mizgin Ay’s career came at the 9th World Youth Athletics Championships held in Nairobi the capital of Kenya in 2017. She won the world title in the 100 metres final with a time of 11.62 seconds in a photo finish becoming the first athlete from Türkiye to win a gold medal at this age category. In the 200 metres event at the same championships she earned the bronze medal with a time of 23.76 seconds finishing third in the world.

Her other international appearances and achievements are as follows:

· Islamic Solidarity Games: She represented Türkiye in both the 100 metres and 200 metres events at the 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games held in Baku.

 ·       Balkan Indoor Athletics Championships: At the 25th Balkan Senior Indoor Athletics Championships hosted in Istanbul she reached the podium in the 60 metres event with a time of 7.38 seconds to win the gold medal.

·        European U20 Championships: At the 2019 championships held in Borås Sweden she reached the final in the 100 metres finishing seventh in Europe.

Kenya'da düzenlenen Dünya Yıldızlar Atletizm Şampiyonası'nda altın madalya kazanan Mizgin Ay (Anadolu Ajansı)

Records and Personal Bests

Ay has drawn attention by breaking long-standing records in Turkish athletics. At the Indoor Trial Competitions held in Istanbul she set a new Turkish record in the 60 metres with a time of 7.32 seconds surpassing the previous record of 7.50 seconds held by another athlete for 25 years.

Her personal bests are:

·        60 Metres (Indoor): 7.32

·        100 Metres: 11.57 (U20 level)

·        200 Metres: 23.76 (U18 level)

Physical Characteristics and Club Career

Mizgin Ay is 1.63 metres tall and weighs 55 kilograms. Since the beginning of her career she has represented Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü in national and international competitions. The athlete has set her future goals as becoming an Olympic champion and establishing new Turkish records in the senior category.