Elif Gokkir leads new wave of Turkish archery talent

When Elif Gokkir beat 2023 World Archery Champion Marie Horackova at the season-opening European Grand Prix Spring Arrows last month, it felt like a subtle shift. They may have been the top two seeds, but it finally seemed like Gokkir’s moment to shine.

Still only 19, the victory reflected an attitude that belied her years.

“Of course, it has a positive impact,” said Gokkir. “It is very important both in terms of experience and self-confidence. At the same time, it shows me how right our training process is and how close I am to my dreams.”

She also won mixed team gold with Berkay Akkoyun.

“Standing on that podium in our own country, in front of our home crowd, is an indescribable feeling,” she added. “Hearing our national anthem at home makes that moment even more meaningful.”

Perhaps more importantly, it followed a strong showing at the opening stage of the 2026 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Puebla, where Gokkir helped secure team silver and mixed team bronze, and comes ahead of another major tournament in Antalya later this year.

“These medals motivated me ahead of the European Outdoor Championships. Our expectations are high, but this does not create pressure; on the contrary, I see it as a great advantage for us. No one knows this field better than we do. We spend most of the year here. As a team, I believe we will have a very successful Europeans.”

Gokkir has been a star in the making for some time and came close last season, too. 

She was runner-up at the Spring Arrows in 2025, losing a rematch with Romania’s Madalina Amaistroaie. Gokkir had beaten the same opponent in the final of the 2024 Conquest Cup in Istanbul, the year she also won the European Youth Championships.

Victory would finally come in 2025 in the under-21 final of the European Indoor Championships.

She also won three matches at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, her run ending against eventual fourth-place finisher Jeon Hunyoung.

Gokkir has emerged as a leading young talent in Turkish women’s recurve, following the surge of interest in the sport – and increased funding – after Mete Gazoz’s earth-shaking victory at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

She also appears to be spearheading a wave of young talent across multiple disciplines. 

The compound women’s final at the Spring Arrows was an all-Turkish affair, with Defne Cakmak beating teammate Hazal Burun. Cakmak, also just 19, is an under-21 indoor champion, while Burun won bronze in Shanghai in 2025 – a result that secured her place at the Hyundai Archery World Cup Final in Nanjing.

They are part of a growing group of Turkish compound archers following the path of last year’s World Cup Final winner Emircan Haney. Named best archer of 2025, Haney claimed his title in Nanjing by defeating the men ranked number one, two and three in the world: Mathias Fullerton, Mike Schloesser and Nicolas Girard.

Head coach Yusuf Goktug Ergin was understandably positive about the results.

“We had a really good pre-season period and proved again that hard work pays off,” he said. “This positive reaction gives us huge confidence and also boosts our community’s belief in our programme. We believe this combination will bring another medal for us.”

The horizon, of course, is much bigger.

“Our ultimate goal is to have full teams at the LA28 Olympic Games with six recurve and two compound athletes,” said Goktug. “This time, we would like to win another history-making medal with the recurve women and compound mixed team – and, of course, any medal with recurve men would be great to show everyone we know how to sustain success.”

“I am aware that these are ‘big words’, but I believe in my staff and trust in our athletes’ ambition.”

With a full-strength squad in Shanghai, including Gazoz, the final word goes to Gokkir:

“My biggest motivation is to win medals for my country while wearing our national team jersey. The passion to see the Turkish flag at the very top is what keeps me going.”