Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu on Opening Doors for the Next Generation
Ahead of the 2026 World Wrestling Championships, Türkiye's world champion and Olympic medalist reflects on the growth of women's wrestling, the importance of role models, and a legacy that goes beyond winning medals.
As Türkiye's women's wrestling team prepared for the 2026 World Championships in Astana, Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu spoke about her ambitions for another world title and the road toward Los Angeles 2028. But perhaps the most meaningful part of her remarks was not about her own medals. It was about the opportunities that now exist for young girls in Türkiye. For Buse, being part of the generation that helped open those doors is an achievement in itself.
From Breaking Barriers to Inspiring a Generation
Women's wrestling has undergone significant changes in Türkiye over the past decade. Yasemin Adar Yiğit was one of the pioneers of that transformation. In 2016, she became Türkiye's first female European wrestling champion, followed by the country's first women's world title in 2017 and its first Olympic medal in women's wrestling at Tokyo 2020.
Buse continued that success, claiming world gold in 2023 and Olympic bronze at Paris 2024. Their achievements were not simply individual victories. They also helped challenge long-standing perceptions of wrestling as a sport primarily for men.
Looking back at the early years of her career, Buse recalled a time when women wrestlers had fewer opportunities and resources. Today, she sees a different picture.
She spoke about the growing number of girls participating in wrestling across Türkiye and the increasing presence of women's wrestling clubs. Seeing so many young girls competing at national championships, she said, is something that still surprises her.
More Than a Captain
As one of the experienced members and captain of the Turkish women's national team, Buse sees her responsibility extending beyond her own results. She wants to guide younger athletes and be someone they can look up to. Her own ambitions remain high. After becoming world champion in 2023 and winning Olympic bronze in 2024, she hopes to claim another world title and a second Olympic medal at Los Angeles 2028.
Yet she also measures success in another way: whether the next generation has opportunities that were not available to her own. For Buse, helping young girls find their place in wrestling is just as meaningful as standing on the podium herself.
A Legacy Beyond the Podium
Medals record the achievements of individual athletes, but they do not always capture how those achievements influence an entire sport.
The impact of pioneers such as Yasemin Adar and Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu can also be seen in the girls who now enter wrestling clubs, compete in national championships and imagine themselves representing Türkiye on the world stage.
Buse's message is a reminder that the legacy of a champion is not measured only by the number of medals won.
Wrestling Podium Radio | Beyond the Result
Source: Turkish Wrestling Federation (Türkiye Güreş Federasyonu)