---
title: Taha Akgül
slug: taha-akgul-d3541
url: /detay/taha-akgul-d3541
type: biography
language: English
entity:
  primary: Taha Akgül
  type: biography
  categories:
    - name: Sport
      slug: spor
      url: /kategori/spor
  tags:
    - World Championship
    - Taha Akgül
    - Olympic
    - European Championship
    - Wrestling
author: Neriman Çalışkan
created_at: 2025-12-02T17:41:07.271310+03:00
updated_at: 2025-12-02T17:41:07.271325+03:00
image: https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/05/19/CSCAGuaelPbkPQbuBL6NJ5YXFQAwiOC5.png
---

# Taha Akgül

> He is an Olympic, world and European champion Turkish wrestler. Taha Akgül ended his 21-year career in Paris 2024.

<!-- CONTEXT: KURE Information Cards for "Taha Akgül" -->

## KURE Information Cards

### KURE Information Card: Taha Akgül

![Taha Akgül kart.png](https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/05/19/ZunZogfDqDCbklu6LXbfNcVWcywbdyQd.png)

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Doğum tarihi | 1990-11-22 |
| Place of Birth | Sivas |
| Discipline | Freestyle Wrestling (125 kg) |
| Career Duration | 2003–2024 (approximately 21 years) |
| Education | Department of Physical Education and Sports – Master's Degree |
| Olympic Medals | 2024),2 Bronze (2020,1 Gold (2016) |
| World Championship | 3 Bronze,2 Silver,3 Gold |
| European Championship | 11 Gold (record holder in freestyle) |
| Retirement | Retired from active wrestling after the 2024 Paris Olympics |

<!-- CONTEXT: Article Content for "Taha Akgül" -->

## Article Content

[Taha Akgül](/en/detay/taha-akgul-04228/llms.txt) is a Turkish national wrestler who has won Olympic, world, and [European championships](/en/detay/wrestling-sport-fef3b/llms.txt) in freestyle wrestling. Through his long career, he has secured a prominent place in Turkish wrestling history.

### Early Life and Start in Sports

Taha Akgül was born on 22 November 1990 in Sivas. He began wrestling at the age of 12 under the guidance of his father, who was also involved in the sport. After failing to achieve success in the mini and star categories, Akgül took a short break from wrestling. He later returned to the sport and won his first championship in the senior category.

### International Career

#### Olympic Games

Taha Akgül represented Türkiye at three different Olympic Games and won a medal at each:

- **Rio 2016**: Gold medal (125 kg)
- **Tokyo 2020**: Bronze medal
- **Paris 2024**: Bronze medal

With these achievements, he became the fifth Turkish athlete to win three medals at the Olympics. In wrestling, he is the third Turkish athlete to accomplish this feat, after Hamit Kaplan and [Rıza Kayaalp](/en/detay/riza-kayaalp-8d68f/llms.txt).

#### World Wrestling Championships

Taha Akgül has won a total of eight medals at the World Championships:

- **Gold**: Tashkent 2014, Las Vegas 2015, Belgrade 2022
- **Silver**: Paris 2017, Nur-Sultan 2019
- **Bronze**: Budapest 2013, Oslo 2021, Belgrade 2023

In 2022, he completed the season undefeated as both European and world champion. That same year, he was named the freestyle wrestler of the year by United World Wrestling.

Taha Akgül has won only gold medals at the European Championships and holds the record for the most golds in freestyle wrestling in this competition.

#### **Years in which he became champion**:

- 2012 (Belgrade)
- 2013 (Tbilisi)
- 2014 (Vantaa)
- 2015 (Baku)
- 2017 (Novi Sad)
- 2018 (Kaspiysk)
- 2019 (Bucharest)
- 2021 (Warsaw)
- 2022 (Budapest)
- 2023 (Zagreb)
- 2024 (Bucharest)

In 2016, he did not compete in the repechage match due to injury. In 2020, he was unable to participate in the tournament following shoulder surgery.

### **Other International Achievements**

In addition to the Olympics, World Championships, and European Championships, Taha Akgül has won gold medals in various international competitions:

- **Mediterranean Games** (Mersin 2013)
- **World University Summer Games** (Kazan 2013)
- **World Military Games** (Wuhan 2019)

He has also won titles at the International Yaşar Doğu Tournament and various Grand Prix events.

### **Paris 2024 and the End of His Athletic Career**

Taha Akgül won a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games by defeating Aiaal Lazarev 7-0. Following this match, he retired from active wrestling, concluding a 21-year athletic career at the age of 33.

In the same year, at the European Wrestling Championships held in Bucharest, he defeated Geno Petriashvili to claim his 11th European title and contributed to Türkiye winning the team championship for the first time in 31 years. Despite suffering an injury prior to the match, he continued to compete.

### **Educational Background**

In addition to his athletic career, Taha Akgül pursued an academic path. He completed his master’s degree in the field of physical education and sports.

### **Career Summary**

Taha Akgül has won the following medals in major international competitions:

- **Olympic Games**: 1 gold, 2 bronze
- **World Championships**: 3 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze
- **European Championships**: 11 gold

In total, he has won 15 gold, 2 silver, and 5 bronze medals, amounting to 22 medals.

<!-- CONTEXT: Academic Sources and References for "Taha Akgül" -->

## Academic Sources and References

1. “Taha Akgül Eski Formuna Kavuştu.” Anadolu Ajansı. Accessed May 19, 2025. https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/dunyadan-spor/taha-akgul-eski-formuna-kavustu/3145638
2. “Turkish Sports’ ‘Living Legend’Mindere Paris Farewell in Paris.” Anadolu Ajansı. Accessed May 19, 2025. https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/spor/turk-sporunun-yasayan-efsanesi-mindere-pariste-veda-etti/3300838