Yasemin Adar Yiğit is a Turkish national wrestler born on 6 December 1991 in Çiçekpınar village, Balıkesir. Competing in the 76 kg freestyle category, Adar has won two world and seven European championships, and at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics she earned a bronze medal, securing Türkiye’s first Olympic medal in women’s wrestling.

Early Life and Education

Yasemin Adar Yiğit graduated from the Faculty of Sports Sciences at Trakya University and completed her master’s degree at the same institution. She took up wrestling during a period when women’s wrestling in Türkiye was beginning to develop, and quickly became one of the most successful athletes in the field.

European Championships

In 2016, at the European Wrestling Championships held in Riga, the capital of Latvia, Yasemin Adar won a gold medal, bringing Türkiye its first European championship title in women’s wrestling. Her achievement heralded a new era in Turkish women’s wrestling. Throughout her career, she has won the European Wrestling Championships six times.

World Championships

In 2017, at the World Wrestling Championships held in Paris, the capital of France, Adar won a gold medal, becoming the first Turkish woman to claim a world championship title. In 2022, at the World Championships in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, she defeated her Egyptian opponent in the final to become world champion for the second time.

Olympic Achievements

At the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, Yasemin Adar won a bronze medal in her weight category, securing Türkiye’s first Olympic medal in women’s wrestling. Having competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Adar has stated that her goal for the 2024 Paris Olympics is to win a gold medal.

Contributions to Women’s Wrestling

Yasemin Adar Yiğit has played a vital role in the development of women’s wrestling in Türkiye. Through her medals and performances, she has helped break down prejudices against women’s wrestling and has served as a role model for young athletes.

Injury and Olympic Preparation

Due to an operation in 2023, Yasemin Adar was unable to compete at the World Championships. She underwent rehabilitation in Eryaman, Ankara. To qualify for the 2024 European Championships and the Paris Olympics, she has been preparing for the Olympic qualifying tournaments to be held in Azerbaijan and Istanbul.