Historic win, sad exit: Nisanur Erbil 1st Olympic fencing victory for Türkiye

Nisanur Erbil, Türkiye’s first female Olympic fencer, made history at the Paris 2024 Olympics by becoming the first Turkish fencer to win a match at the Olympics.

Her journey at the games ended in round 16 after facing the world’s number two, French fencer Sara Balzer, and losing 15-5.

Erbil’s Olympic debut saw her bypass the first round due to her seeding. In round 32, she faced American Magda Skarbonkiewicz and emerged victorious with a score of 15-11.

This victory marked the first match win for Turkish fencing at the Olympics, making Nisanur Erbil a trailblazer for the sport in Türkiye.

Erbil faced one of world’s best in fencing

In round 16, Erbil faced a tough opponent, Sara Balzer, ranked number two in the world. Despite her best efforts, Erbil lost the match 15-5.

The match was a significant challenge, but Erbil’s participation and performance demonstrated her skill and determination on the international stage.

Facing such a high-ranking opponent so early in her Olympic career foreshadowed the bright future ahead for Turkish fencing.

Nisanur Erbil’s emotional exit, national support

After her defeat, Erbil struggled to hold back tears during her interview. She expressed her determination by saying, “I promise we will come out of this with smiles.” Her coach consoled her, reminding her of her achievements with the words, “Stand tall, my girl. You have succeeded.”

The emotional moment was shared widely, and Erbil posted a video of her tearful interview on social media, thanking everyone for their support. She wrote, “I want to share this video to remember where I came from and to look back on during better days. Thank you for all your kind words. Some of you wrote that you cried with me… You made me proud and very happy. I will keep working hard for my dreams and our flag.”

Messages of support poured in from across Türkiye. People praised her for reaching the Olympics and assured her of future successes. Comments included, “You have already succeeded by making it to the Olympics,” and “We are proud of you, Nisanur Erbil.”