Finnish at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics Sinem Kurtbay has decided to move to representing its second home country Turkey. reported in January that Kurtbay will end his national team career. Kurtbay and pairs Axis of central They went to the Paris Olympics last year with medal expectations. Olympic regatta ended with seventh and disappointing.
According to a news release from the Finnish Sailing and Boating Association, “Kurtbay decided to leave the Olympic class behind Paris, but a good offer from Turkey and the re -ignited Into to continue in the Nacra 17 class made him change his mind.”
– We understand the solution of Sinem and support him with our full heart. The fact that Sinem, as a citizen of two countries, chooses the representation of another country instead of Finland, does not make him less Finnish, but tells the harsh truth about the financial situation in Finnish top sports and top sail. Here we need to get a change, the Finnish sailing and the chairman of the Boating (SPV) Mats Welin says in the bulletin.
The International Sailing Association World Sailing has already granted Kurtbay a Turkish representation. He will be seen in the Nacra 17 grade European Championship in Turkish colors as early as next week. Kurtbay acts as a skipper and Alican Kayar Gastina.
Kurtbay and Kaynar have been practicing for the European Championship in Greece in one Finnish Boat Axis of central–Catherine Roihun with.
– It has felt really cozy and comfortable, Kurtbay commented in the release with his former pair Keskinen.
Kurtbay shed light on his decision to move to Turkey in a news release “by letter to Finns.”
– After the Paris Olympics, I was offered the opportunity to sail on the Turkish national team, but I rejected it several times because I felt that my Olympic career was over. With axle (Keskinen), Jocke (coach Joakim Wilenius) And I had a very successful Olympic project, and I was ready to move on, Kurtbay described.
At the turn of the year, Kurtbay had noticed that he would like to sail full time at the Moth Class World Championships. Then he felt ready to throw himself into the challenge and start a new Olympic project. After Keskinen had started sailing with Roihu, Kurtbay thought he had the only option to start a project with a young promise. In Kurtbay’s opinion, it would have demanded too much.
– I’m in a life situation where I want to start a family and make a living. This made me return to the Turkish offer in the spring, which gives me the opportunity to have a fully funded project, pay and competing with an experienced sail who knows Nacra, Kurtbay says.
Kurtbay feels that he is primarily Finnish.
– Finnish sailing has given me a lot and that’s why the decision was difficult for me. At the same time, however, this is the opportunity for me to strengthen the bandage to another my nationality and the country where I once started sailing, Kurtbay describes.
Sailing boss to : “It’s hard to say how you can even attract”
Director of Coaching of the Finnish Sailing and Boating Association Robert Päkk told that he was in a dual atmosphere when he heard about Kurtbay’s decision.
– I was kind of disappointed, but on the other hand, for Sinem. He is a dual citizen. Such things can come. Sinem is still part of our sailing family. All in all, I’m positive, Päkk says.
When Kurtbay had a spark for racing, how did you try to lure her to stay in Finland?
– It’s hard to say how you can even attract this kind of situation. There is not much choice. We have a small country. There are so many sailors in the Nacra class that we probably wouldn’t have had one good option. Yes, I understand the Turkish offer. In his situation, that is probably much more sensible than going out of zero, Päkk replies.
The financial details of the Kurtbay and Turkey Agreement Päkk do not know, according to his own words. No longer a joint training pattern between Turkey and Finland has yet been agreed, even though the countries of representing the countries are now practicing in one Greece before the European Championships.
– This is such a new thing. I also think they have the first camp in the upcoming race environment (Kurtbay and Kaynar). Of course, there is a constant sailing cooperation officially and informally. I believe that in the future there will be a possible easy partner to learn or compare pace in different circumstances, Päkk says.
Nor does PÄKK find the problem of Finnish top-level sports so that Turkey can attract money to Finnish successful sailors.
– We have equally received from abroad from dual citizens to Finland. Such a phenomenon can come from time to time. We have always been aware that we have a dual citizen on the team. Many other species have happened that one changes a representative country for one reason or another. It is not forbidden. It is fully allowed, with its own protocols, Päkk says.
The sailing boss also underlines that switching to Turkey was a good opportunity for Kurtbay and a good next step for his career. Päkk assumes that Kurtbay and Alican Kaynar can be competitive next week at the European Championships.
– Time will tell at what point they are at the top. Their project is just beginning. There is probably little room for sanding. Life looks like. It may be that I’m wrong and they are good right away, Päkk says.
More specifically, he talks about his expectations for Central and Riihua.
– Prohjehti has practically started from zero late last year. So far, good results have already come. I expect to be close to the tenth jacket that might be an age and good success. We will not take great pressure from this race, Päkk estimates.
Updated at 10:07 pm. Added Päkk’s comments.