Ahmet Ertekin rises from construction work to European Muay Thai champion

Ahmet Ertekin, a 26-year-old national athlete from Antalya, has transitioned from working in construction to becoming a European Muay Thai champion and a world runner-up. Ertekin, who followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather by working in the construction industry, credits the heavy physical labor for building the strength necessary for his combat sports career.

After discovering martial arts in high school to learn self-defense, Ertekin trained under coach Yasin Urlu. He has represented Turkey in international competitions across approximately 10 countries. Today, Ertekin operates his own sports gym in Antalya, where he trains approximately 150 athletes, teaching them resilience and perseverance.