Simge Elif Poyraz (27), who was born in Antalya with a rare developmental disorder in the spinal cord and started sports to strengthen her leg muscles and walk after a while, became the Turkish champion in weightlifting.
The youngest of the 3 children of the Poyraz family living in Kepez, Simge Elif Poyraz was born with ‘Spina Bifida’ disease, known as a developmental disorder in the spinal cord. Poyraz, who had some difficulties in his childhood due to his illness, became partially paralyzed in his left leg when he was 12 years old. Continuing his life with crutches, Poyraz had many surgeries due to his illness.
Poyraz, whose disability also prevented his education, continued his life with a wheelchair after a while. Icon, who started to receive physical therapy, met here with weightlifting athlete Faruk Öztürk, who, like himself, continues his life with a wheelchair. Icon, who wanted to strengthen his weak leg muscles in order to stand up again, started weightlifting with Faruk’s guidance.
IT WAS SECOND IN THE FIRST COMPETITION
Working with great determination, Poyraz came in second in the Physically Disabled Turkey Championship, which he participated in shortly after he started weightlifting. Icon, whose whole life changed with weightlifting, stopped being confined to the house and after a while started to work in Konyaaltı Municipality. Not being able to prevent him with his injuries, Simge won the 1st place in the Physically Disabled Turkey Weightlifting Championship held in Nazilli, Aydın last month.
HE MET SPORTS THANKS TO A FRIEND
Stating that he never gave up on his goals, Poyraz said, “I was introduced to sports thanks to my friend Faruk, who is a world champion in weightlifting. My first thought was to strengthen my leg muscles when I started. Shortly after, I became the 2nd in Turkey in the championship. After seeing the success, my mind changed and I focused entirely on my arms and aimed to become a champion.” .
“I WANT TO WAVE OUR FLAG IN EUROPE”
Stating that weightlifting changed his whole life, Poyraz said, “After sports, I started work, bought my house. I can say that sports became my life. I don’t know what I would have done without weightlifting. I didn’t stay home. I won the 1st place in Turkey in the championship held last month. I wasn’t expecting it because I had injuries one after another and due to the earthquake. “We couldn’t train either. I want to wave our flag in Europe. I’m preparing for the 2025 European Championship for this,” he said.