24.10.2026 10:31
Ahmet Ertekin, 26, who trained while working on construction sites in Antalya like his grandfather and father, achieved Turkish and European championships and a world second place in Muay Thai. Ertekin, who has competed for the national team in about 10 countries, says that harsh working conditions made him stronger. Today, Ertekin trains nearly 150 athletes at the gym he opened.
Ahmet Ertekin (26), who trained while working on construction sites in Antalya about 6 years ago, won Turkish and European championships as well as a world runner-up title in muay thai. Today, Ertekin trains approximately 150 athletes in his own gym.
Ahmet Ertekin’s interest in combat sports began during his high school years. Seeing his friends go to the gym, Ertekin himself started training after a while. Muay thai, which Ahmet Ertekin took up to protect himself, quickly became the center of his life. Continuing his work under his coach Yasin Urlu, Ertekin drew attention by winning a gold medal at the first Turkish Championship he participated in. Ahmet Ertekin, who worked in construction, his family’s profession, in the early years of his athletic career, continued his training despite heavy working conditions.
HE FORGED HIS BODY AS IF HAMMERING IRON
Explaining that the years he spent in construction contributed greatly to him physically, Ertekin said, “My grandfather and father are construction workers. I also worked constantly on construction sites alongside them. While going to high school, I saw my friends going to the gym and became enthusiastic. After this enthusiasm, I became interested in combat sports.”
Noting that his work and training life went together in that period, Ahmet Ertekin said, “There really was a situation of both training and working under heavy and difficult conditions. I think the biggest factor in my reaching these levels is that I worked in construction. Because there I was forging my body as if hammering iron. I began to realize this in later times.”
WORLD RUNNER-UP TITLE AFTER HARDSHIPS
Ertekin, who did not give up his sports career during the period he worked in construction, rose to the national team over time. Representing Turkey in muay thai and kickboxing at different international organizations, Ahmet Ertekin participated in competitions on behalf of the national team in about 10 countries. In addition to the European championship, the national athlete, who achieved a world runner-up title, succeeded in reaching the goals he had set years ago. Stating that the process he went through gave him important experiences, Ertekin said, “I experienced great difficulties and made great sacrifices. But those difficulties contributed a great deal to me. Because there I learned how difficult it is to earn a living.” Expressing that achieving success has a special meaning for him, Ahmet Ertekin said, “Achieving something that everyone can do is a very beautiful feeling. It really satisfies a person very much. I think a person really needs to live.”
NOW HE TRAINS ATHLETES IN HIS OWN GYM
After his athletic career, Ertekin also turned to coaching and opened his own gym in the city. Ertekin said, “The sport I am involved in is called muay thai. I am also an athlete who has represented my country many times in kickboxing. I am currently officially a world runner-up and European champion. In addition, I participated in competitions to represent our national team in nearly 10 countries. Apart from that, I opened my own gym. I currently have nearly 150 active athletes. I also have students who are actively fighting now.”
Saying that the difficulties he experienced while working in construction also affect his approach to his athletes today, Ertekin said, “A person needs to be forged like iron. For this, they need to see hardship. I think the difficulties I experienced contributed greatly to me. Now, while training my athletes, I want them to learn to struggle as well.”