THE NAME OF DETERMINATION: PARATRIATHLON

A phrase I say at every opportunity is “No Barriers in Sports!” I don't know if it's because I know all the paratriathletes in Turkey, but more than just a wish, I say this phrase wholeheartedly every time.

 

I try to keep the topic of paratriathlon in the spotlight as much as possible. Our veteran athlete, marathon runner Ekrem Taşkın, the only paratriathlete to complete a half Ironman (70.3) on crutches, Abdülkadir Özoğul, Turkey's first female paratriathlete, our dear Miray Ulaş, and Burak Abacıoğlu, who managed to become the world champion this year. The common trait among Burak Abacıoğlu, who managed to become the world champion this year, is that they have been part of the Carraro family for years. Moreover, they carry a great responsibility: to be an example and a source of hope for our disabled citizens and our youth. At times, they have been shaken by the weight of their mission, but they have never given up. Now they are moving forward with determined steps on the road to the Olympics.

 

In this article, where we examine the “Barrier-Free” athletes and special categories of this challenging sport, we welcome Abdulkadir Özogul and Ekrem Taşkın, beloved faces of the races, as our guests. You will undoubtedly see new faces in the following sections.
Triathlon is a challenging sport in itself, and to compete in it without regard for disabilities is truly worthy of applause. It is no surprise that the biggest cheers at competitions go to the athletes in the junior and paratriathlete categories. Furthermore, seeing more and more “disability-free” paratriathletes on the swimming, cycling, and running courses each year, without any distance separation from other athletes, is a great source of joy for those of us who enthusiastically follow this sport. For this reason, we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the Turkish Triathlon Federation, to the coaches who have made it their mission to train paratriathletes, and to the sponsors who support athletes in this category for their efforts.

 

Paratriathletes, who competed in 7 different categories until 2014 under the ITU (International Triathlon Union), are now classified into 3 different categories under the revised evidence-based guidelines introduced in 2014. According to the 2019 edition, the mobility impairment category is divided into PTS2-PTS5, the visual impairment category, and the wheelchair category PTWC-1 and PTWC-2. Athletes with muscle strength loss or disorders affecting the muscular and nervous systems, such as cerebral palsy, fall into these categories.

Special Categories Since there is often confusion about the categories in almost every race, let's take a look at some terminology. PTS2: Used for athletes with advanced mobility restrictions but who have muscle strength and mobility. Athletes with a below-knee amputation compete in this class and may use prosthetics or assistive equipment during the competition. PTS3: Used for athletes with significant movement restrictions but who still possess muscle strength and mobility. Athletes with bilateral above-knee amputations and athletes with muscle strength loss in one arm compete in this class and may use prostheses or supportive equipment during the competition.

PTS4: Used for athletes with moderate movement restrictions but who have muscle strength and mobility. Athletes with developmental abnormalities in one arm or above-knee/above-elbow amputees compete in this class and may use prostheses or supportive equipment during competition. PTS5: Used for athletes with mild movement restrictions but who have muscle strength and mobility. Athletes with orthopedic deformities in the elbow/foot, amputees at the hand/foot ankle, and athletes with mild cerebral palsy compete in this class and may use prostheses or assistive equipment during the competition. In addition to these, there are PTWC-1 and PTWC-2 classes for athletes who use wheelchairs and PTC-1 and PTC-2 classes for visually impaired athletes, depending on the structure of the visual cortex, eye/optic nerve disorders. uuml;n yapısı veya optik sinir bozukluklarına göre PTVC-1 ve PTVC-2 sınıflandırmaları bulunmaktadır.

Determination Itself!

This section of the article is dedicated to modern-day heroes. This is no exaggeration, as our guests Ekrem Taşkın is a heroic veteran from the southeast, and Abdülkadir Özoğul is an “Engelsiz” athlete who has completed a Half Ironman. Since both are close friends of ours, the conversation is long. Let's get started without wasting any time. Carraro Turkey: Dear Ekrem, you're the big shot, so let's start with you. Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you first got into triathlon? Abdülkadir, then it's your turn.

Ekrem Taşkın (E.T): I am a 47-year-old father of two and a Southeast War Veteran. I discovered this sport entirely by chance, thanks to information I received during a meeting I attended. I am proud of where I am today. I represented my country in the Paratriathlon World Cup competition in Italy.

Abdulkadir Özogul (A.Ö.): I lost my right leg after a traffic accident in 1994. I started my sporting life with amputee football in 2006. I started running in 2007 and achieved good results in many running competitions with crutches. I learned to swim for health reasons. In 2015, I quit amputee football and thought about adding cycling to swimming, which I continued as a hobby. Actually, my goal was to learn to ride a bike so I wouldn't get tired when going fishing. Now I run granfondos! (Laughs)

Carraro Turkey: I know neither of you like to brag about your achievements, but I have to mention them. On one hand, there are half marathons (21Km), and on the other, there are Half Ironman races (1.9Km Swim – 90Km Bike – 21Km Run).

(E.T): I have over 50 medals. Apart from triathlons and duathlons, I have achieved rankings in half marathons and open water swimming competitions. I have run half marathons in Antalya, Lisbon, Adana, and Balıkesir. In 2018, as part of the Silent Scream Project, I cycled 4,521 km from Istanbul to The Hague in 49 days to draw attention to the rights of people with disabilities. Being the only disabled athlete in the world to achieve this with a prosthetic leg is a source of pride for me.

(A.Ö): In 2016, I became a member of the Carraro Family through the Izmir Duathlon. With their support, I became the Turkish Champion and set my 2017 goal as completing the Half Ironman. In addition to being the 2017 Turkish runner-up in triathlon, I was proud to be Turkey's first Half Ironman Paratriathlete. This is an indescribable feeling for me. Along with winning the 2018 Triathlon Turkey Championship, the first place I achieved in the Istanbul Strait swim and the Çeşme Granfondo rsquo; also hold great significance for me. This year, I also placed third at the Paratriathlon World Championships held in Alanya. At this point, sponsor support is very important. I feel like my family is right there with me during the races. This motivates me even more.

Carraro Turkey: You are determined athletes with big goals. You also set an example for our disabled citizens. You have achieved competitions that others can hardly even dream of, “Without Barriers.” What's next?

(E.T): My goal is to represent my country at the Paralympic Games. To achieve this, I devote my free time after work to training, with the support of my family. However, this goal requires a lot of effort. I need to participate in international competitions and earn points. As you can imagine, this is a difficult task.

(A.Ö): My main goal is to show everyone that sports and social life can coexist without barriers, and of course, representing my country in international competitions is also my biggest goal. I am proud to have achieved this this year by becoming third in the world in Alanya.

Carraro Turkey: Could you tell us a little about how you train?

(E.T): I try to train regularly every day of the week with my coach.

(A.Ö): We are people with normal jobs, and we have to spend every free moment we find training. During the week, I tailor my training program to at least one long-distance bike ride, two days of swimming, and two days of running.

Carraro Turkey: Of course, not everything is a bed of roses. Shall we touch on some of the problems?

(E.T): In order to develop paratriathlon, the classifications of paratriathletes must be structured correctly so that they can compete at European and world standards. The number of athletes with disabilities should be increased, and the equipment they use in competitions (prostheses, wheelchairs, bicycles, etc.) should be made easier to obtain. I believe that training opportunities should be increased and financial support should be provided to athletes with disabilities. 

(A.Ö): I also have concerns about categorization. The number of our fellow athletes with disabilities is increasing. However, when we are not evaluated in the correct categories, unfair results occur. For example, when I run with the help of crutches, how can I compete against someone who races with a running prosthesis, and how can we compete in the same category? Also, in competitions, it is difficult to move around on one leg due to the fatigue caused by racing is compounded by having to move by hopping on one leg, but we solve that with the support of an assistant. Triathlon is a tough sport, but paratriathlon is even tougher. But remember, it's not impossible. Human beings can achieve anything. With desire, determination, and belief.

That's all for now. We tried to convey the importance of our topic and its terminology in our own words, even if only briefly. We will continue to bring you new articles and introduce you to new friends.

Written by: Samed KUNAÇ