İlke Özyüksel Mihrioğlu wins Turkey's first modern pentathlon European title

İlke Özyüksel Mihrioğlu has become the first modern pentathlete from Turkey to win a European Championship title. Competing at the Burhan Felek Sports Complex in Istanbul during the 2026 European Modern Pentathlon Championships, she secured the gold medal following performances in fencing, obstacle course, swimming, and laser run.

In the women's final, which included 18 athletes, Anastasiya Arol from Belarus took the silver medal, and Blanka Guzi from Hungary earned the bronze. This victory marks a historic milestone for Turkish sports, as Mihrioğlu had previously won two bronze medals in European competitions.

Turkish Minister of Youth and Sports, Osman Aşkın Bak, congratulated Mihrioğlu, describing her as a "legendary name for modern pentathlon in Turkey." Deputy Minister Hamza Yerlikaya also noted that the sport has reached a level of potential capable of securing Olympic medals, viewing this championship as a rehearsal for the 2027 European Games.