OMU national athlete Fırat Çekim reaches podium in both Sambo and Judo

National athlete Fırat Çekim, a student in the Coaching Department at the Yaşar Doğu Faculty of Sports Sciences of Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU), became Türkiye Champion in Sambo in the 71 kg category and placed third in Türkiye in Judo in the 66 kg category, succeeding in reaching the podium in two different combat sports. The national athlete, who explained the disciplined training process behind his achievements, said that his goal is to represent Türkiye in the international arena.

Fırat Çekim: “Discipline, struggle, and continuity have been the cornerstones of this journey”

Stating that he was introduced to sports through Judo at an early age, Fırat Çekim said that sport gradually became the center of his life. Çekim said, “Sport is not only a hobby for me; it has turned into a lifestyle. Discipline, struggle, and continuity have been the cornerstones of this journey.” The national athlete also said that the moments he cannot forget in his career are the times when he reached the national podium.

Emphasizing that achieving success in two different branches requires serious balance, Çekim stated that Judo and Sambo are sports that complement each other. Çekim said that Judo gave him technical discipline, balance, and timing, while Sambo improved him in terms of fighting intensity and transition techniques.

Stating that competing in different weight categories creates significant physical changes, Çekim said, “While I feel more agile and faster at 66 kg, I feel stronger and more resilient at 71 kg. Therefore, I carefully plan my nutrition, recovery, and strength training.”

Fırat Çekim: “Being able to stay calm during the match is one of the greatest advantages”

The young athlete stated that his achievement at the Sambo Türkiye Championship was not a surprise and that his success was the result of planned, systematic work. Çekim explained that during the preparation process, he focused especially on conditioning, match tempo, and mental resilience, and said, “Being able to stay calm during the match was one of the greatest advantages.”

The national athlete stated that he trains twice a day, six days a week, carrying out strength and conditioning work in the morning and focusing on technique and match tactics in the evening. Çekim said that he plans his Judo and Sambo training in a balanced way and aims to continue developing in both branches.

Fırat Çekim: “Whichever branch it is, my goal is to represent our flag in the best possible way”

Referring also to his international goals, Çekim stated that he wants to represent Türkiye in European and World Championships and said, “Whichever branch it is, my goal is to represent our flag in the best possible way.”

Giving advice to young athletes who want to be involved in more than one combat sport, the national athlete drew attention to the importance of building a solid foundation. Fırat Çekim said, “It is necessary to first build a good foundation in one branch and then move on to other branches. Discipline, patience, and continuity are the three most important rules of this work.” Çekim also thanked his coach Sinan Sandal, who contributed to his success.