Elif Ildem

Started: She began Para swimming at age 20 at Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyesi SK in Turkiye. (cumhuriyet.com.tr, 29 Dec 2020; Athlete, 12 Sep 2019, 04 Dec 2017) Reason: She took up the sport as part of her rehabilitation. "I had to swim on the recommendation of the doctor. 'You can come and swim in our club', my uncle said to me. Of course, at first, we were thinking more for rehabilitation, but when I entered the pool, my coaches always said to me, 'You swim very well, you have to participate in the races'. It was the first time that I met sport in a professional sense. It was a turning point in my life." (fotomac.com.tr, 03 Dec 2021; elifildem.com, 14 Feb 2020; Athlete, 12 Sep 2019, 04 Dec 2017) Additional Info: POSITIVE EFFECTS Swimming has had a positive effect on her physical and mental condition. "The most important thing is the psychological impact. My social life has become more diverse. I have started to look at life more positively. As I feel free in the water, it also reflects in the outside world. Although competing can cause performance anxiety and other stresses we experience in sports, I can say that swimming has reduced the anxiety that I experience in general daily life." (gazeteduvar.com.tr, 17 Dec 2019) FURTHER EDUCATION In 2019 she completed a master's degree in clinical psychology at Bahcesehir University in Istanbul, Turkiye. "I received training in the field of sports psychology. There are many physically impaired athletes in Turkiye. I want to specialise in this field and help them. I try to combine my sports and academic career." (LinkedIn profile, 14 Jan 2024; cumhuriyet.com.tr, 29 Dec 2020; independentturkish.com, 16 Dec 2019)

Sporting Relatives: Her uncle Dayim Huseyn has served as a wrestling coach at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Sports Club in Turkiye. (elifildem.com, 14 Feb 2020)