I support the athletes mentioned on this page in three different ways
1- Transferring part of my income during my tour around the world to the athletes
2- Introducing the athletes to my Sponsors supporting my world tour that is to my dream partners or to new sponsors. By this way we become a part of these athletes’ dreams.
3- Transferring half of your cash support to the athletes (Followers Supporting). The other half goes to Traveler Scholarship.
I will support the athletes whom I believe would inspire others to realize their dreams as far I can.
It is truly hard to take such a huge responsibility by myself but not impossible. Please click I WANT TO SUPPORT if you say: “Gurkan we also want to support you in this issue”
Aslihan AYGUN – Road Bicycle Turkey Champion
She is a high school student. Started with her sports career in 2012 as a member of Turkish Bicycle Federation and continues at Antalya Youth Sports Club. She won Turkey Championship in the Youth Women category.
Date of Birth: February 22, 2001 Age: 14 Height: 170 cm Weight: 54 kg
Place of Birth and Residence: Antalya – Turkey
Supporters: Gurkan Genc and followers, Gungorler Bicycle
Trainer: Sevket Simsek – Ekram Sacak
Championships attended between in 2015 and ranks
Alanya Season Start Criterium 1st
Fethiye Road Race 3rd
5th Kids Sport Games International Rumi Konya 4th
Kutahya Criterium 2nd
Antalya Interscholastic Road Race 1st
Interscholastic Turkey Championship Road Race 3rd
Championships attended between in 2015 and ranks
Mersin Season Start Road Race 3rd
Mersin Season Start Criterium 1st
4th Kids Sport Games International Rumi Konya 3rd
Interscholastic Turkey Championship Time Trial 1st
Interscholastic Turkey Championship Road Race 2nd
Denizli Turkey Championship Time Trial 1st
Denizli Turkey Championship Road Race 2nd
Izmir Season End Road Race 1st
Izmir Season End Road Criterium 1st
Races not attended during 2014 season and reasons
None
Who inspired you?
Our neighbor who was involved in sports.
Your childhood hero?
None
What do you like most on bicycle
To sprint in the last 200 meters putting my whole power.
Your favorite race
Denizli Road Race Time Trial
Your favorite athlete
Mark Cavendish
How do you know that you are in top form?
When I’m happy and full of pep, then I’m in top form.
How do you continue when you are at your limit?
“No pain no gain”. Pain for you, pain for others! You cry at the race if you don’t cry at the training! Those are my motivation words.
Your biggest success in your career:
3rd rank at 4th Kids Sport Games International Rumi Konya
What would you like to be if not an athlete?
Dancer or poet
Your hobbies?
Writing poems, playing guitar, visiting historical places.
Your favorite movie?
Hunger Games
Your favorite kind of music?
I like to listen to music. No special song.
Your best sports partner?
Cenk OZKOK
Your favorite dish?
Pasta
The most famous person you met
Mehmet BAYKAN, Youth and Sports General Director
Your advice to your followers
Follow your destination of success. Never break up with your dreams no matter what people say. You’ll the win in the end
Merve TASKIN – 200 metres and 400 metres athlete – An athlete I have started to support in 2014
My sports career has started at 7th class taking attention of my sports teacher. I was the last at my first race but didn’t give up.
After each bad race I set a goal to make better and I already achieved some of my goals.
I achieved many successes thanks to my trainer. We both trained hard and continue to train. I run 400 and 200 m. My best time is 61.80 seconds at 400 m and 26.80 seconds at 200 m
Date of Birth: August 14, 1999 Age: 16 Height: 168 cm Weight: 50 kg
Place of Birth and Residence: Istanbul – Turkey
Education: Erguvan Secondary School
Supporters: Gurkan Genc
Facebook : Merve Taskın
Trainer: Adnan Uslu
Championships attended between 2013-2014 and ranks
– Izmir Age Groups Turkey Championship 2nd
– Izmir Age Groups Turkey Championship 400 m 3rd
– Culture and Sports League 6th leg 1st
– 2013 Mersin Clubs 4×100 metres relay 1st
– Fastest of Istanbul 1st
– Sadi Gulcelik Race 100 m 2nd
– Sadi Gulcelik Race 400 m 1st
– Young Athletes Istanbul Championship 400 m 1st
– Young Athletes Istanbul Championship 800 m 1st
What do you like most: Hard work and success
How do you know that you are in top form?
Depends on the performance I show during training
How do you continue when you are at your limit?
“I have a goal to achieve” I focus on this and never give up
Your biggest success in your career: 2nd rank at 200 m and 3rd rank at 400 m races during Turkey Age Groups Championship
What would you like to be if not an athlete?
Police officer or an artist
Your hobbies?
To sing
Your future goals?
To race to the top rank first at Turkish and then at World Championships. To be the best.
Gizem BEKAROGLU – Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) Athlete – An athlete I have started to support in 2014
She is a social scientist working at UN Ankara (UNHCR).
Her Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) career has begun in August 2012 at Ankara BJJ team trained by Eren Anlar (brown belt) through Mert Berberoğlu. After Eren Anlar left the team and went to Brazil, she continued to train at Corvos BJJ MMA team under the supervision of Deger Bicer (black belt) founder of the club. In September 13, 2013 she became the first woman with blue belt rank of Ankara. Besides her profession she trains 4-5 days per week and continues to attend international championships.
Date of Birth: July 07, 1986 Age: 28 Height: 160 cm Weight: 50 kg
Place of Birth: Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Residence: Ankara, Turkey
Education: Bogazici University
Supporters: Gurkan Genc, Fenom Kimonos
Twitter: @GBbekaroglu
Trainers: Burak Deger Bicer, Mert Berberoğlu
Team: Corvos
Championships attended between 2013-2014 and ranks
Turkish Jiu Jitsu Federation Istanbul Championship (September 2013) 2nd
Munich International IBJJF Championship (November 2013) 3rd
Copenhagen International Open IBJJF Championship (NoGi) (May 2014) 1st
Copenhagen International Open IBJJF Championship (May 2014) 2nd
Moscow International Open IBJJF Championship (November 2014) 1st
Moscow International Open IBJJF Championship (NoGi) (November 2014) 1st
Championships attended during 2014 season
Rome International Open IBJJF Championship (April 2014)
What do you like most on BJJ?
Self-esteem and self-reliance you gain with this sport
Your favorite athlete?
Burak Deger Bicer and Tammi Masumeci
How do you know that you are in top form?
When I feel myself still energetic after training three and a half hours per day and four days a week.
How do you continue when you are at your limit?
When I think that how much I love this sport and remind myself the goals I have set, I find myself training even on my worst day.
Your biggest success in your career
First BJJ blue belt woman athlete of Ankara
What would you like to be if not an athlete?
Artist or sculptress
Your hobbies?
Art history and travelling
Your best training partner?
Asena Melike Agansoy
Your future goals for BJJ?
Train women and children for BJJ
Become the pioneer BJJ black belt woman athlete of Turkey
What is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ and its history?
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art and combat sport.
Esai Maeda, a former jiu-jitsu champion of Japan immigrated to Brazil in 1920 where he taught the art to Carlos Gracie.
In 1925 Carlos opened his own jiu-jitsu school. His younger brother Helio because of his small frame couldn’t attend any training lessons but learned the principles of this art by only watching. Then after, Helio adjusted the techniques to suit himself, coming up to an art more effective spending less power thereby creating Brazilian jiu-jitsu which differs from Japanese jiu-jitsu.
It is a method promoting physical fitness training every single muscle from head to toes. BJJ also promotes building character
Ayca KUTLU (MTB (mountain bike) athlete I started to support at 2013)
I’m 6th grade student in Burladingen, Germany. My sports career has begun in 2010 at Gonso Rawoflex RSG Zollernalb club. Since the last 4 years I have attended 40 different MTB XC races claiming a podium place for several times.
I won the club races in 2012 and 2014 in my age category. I was within backup team of the German National Team in 2013.
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Date of Birth: October 28, 2002 Age: 12 Height: 158 cm Weight: 45 kg Place of Birth and residence: Burladingen – Germany
Supporters: Followers and supporters of Gurkan Genc, Kron
Twitter: @kutluAyca
Antrenörü: Daniel Sauter ve Oğuz Kutlu
Races attended during 2014 season and ranks
MTB Veringendorf 3rd
ALB Gold Böhringen 4th
ALB Golg Böbingen 9th
RSG Zollernalb club race 1st
Alb Gold Dettingen 4th
ALB Gold Neufen 7th
ALB Gold Gomaringen could not attend
LB Gold Gomaringen could not attend
Who inspired you?
My father
Your first club
RSG-Zollernalb e.V. Team Gonso Rawoflex
For the time being I’m attending races at U13 category and the next season (2015) at 15 category.
Your childhood hero
Keloglan [Bald boy is a fictional character of Turkish culture]
What do you like most on bicycling?
Anything related with bicycle and to push up my limits.
Your favorite race?
MTB Albgold Gomaringen Sprint race
Your favorite athlete?
My uncle (footballer)
How do you know that you are in top form?
If I feel well at the very beginning of riding, it means I’m fit that day.
How do you continue when you are at your limit?
I continue to drink water and focus on passing the rider in front of me.
Your biggest success in your career
I made several top ranks and won races organized by my club.
What would you like to be if not an athelete?
Archeologist
Your hobbies?
Volleyball and playing violin
Your favorite movie?
Narnia
Your favorite kind of music?
Rock and Pop music
Your best training partner?
I train with my sister Eda
Your favorite dish?
My grandmothers’
The most famous person you met
Gurkan Genc
Your advice to your followers
Whatever you do, do it by heart. If not it you’ll fail!
MERVE CEYLAN – Turkish Triathlon ve Duathlon Champion in her age group (Athlete I started to support in 2014)
Studies International Trade. Her sports career began in 2012 as a licensed individual athlete. After riding for Hacettepe University Cycling Team, she became a member of Atlantik Education Sports Club member of Turkish Triathlon Federation in 2013. Riding for this club she claimed the second place in Turkish Duathlon Championship at Elite Women category. She is riding as an individual athlete of Turkish Triathlon Federation since the end of 2013 season. She is also active as a private swimming trainer.
Date of Birth: November 03, 1988 Age: 25 Height: 154 cm Weight: 45
Place of Birth and residence: Istanbul – Turkey
Supporters: Gurkan Genc , The North Face (I’m in contact with two more potential sponsors!)
Twitter: @mariatriathlete
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MerveCeylanTriAthlethe
Trainer: Halil Emre
Races attended during 2014 season and ranks
Cigli Duathlon 1st
Antalya Triathlon 3rd
Iznik Triathlon 5th
Istanbul Triathlon 2nd
Egirdir National Championship 2nd
Alanya World Cup 3rd
Konya Duahtlon National Championship 1st
Antalya Middle Distance Triathlon (Half Iron man) 2nd
Antalya Half Ironman Triathlon, October 26th 3rd
Races not attended during 2014 season and reasons
Mersin Tasucu Triathlon (Budget shortage)
Kutahya Triathlon (Budget shortage)
The April Joke Middle Distance Triathlon (Budget shortage)
Dardanelles Open Water Swim (Budget shortage)
Who inspired you?
I was impressed by the racing cyclists on the coast I saw which inspired me to start cycling.
Your childhood hero?
None
What do you like most on triathlon?
I like the moment I ride still damp after swimming during triathlon.
Your favorite race?
Triathlon Ironman Hawaii World Championship
Your favorite athlete?
Mario Cipollini
How do you know that you are in top form?
When I’m full of pep, I’m in top form that day.
How do you continue when you are at your limit?
No pain no gain! I try to psychologically prepare myself to handle pain
Your biggest success in your career
My running performance I showed during the Istanbul Triathlon race
What would you like to be if not an athlete?
Artist
Your hobbies?
Drawing, outdoor activities. Historical war movies
Your favorite movie?
The Green Mile
Your favorite kind of music?
Greenday – I walk alone
Your best training partner?
Neval Yaşar Gördük
Your favorite dish?
Hunkar Begendi (A Turkish meat dish made with pureed eggplant)
The most famous person you met
Gökhan Özuğur, leadvocalist of the Turkish band Athena
Your advice to your followers
Take risk and fight for what you want to change. You will the winner at the end.