21.04.2026 23:13
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called and congratulated national athlete Rıza Kayaalp, who made history by winning his 13th European championship at the 2026 European Wrestling Championships held in Albania.
National wrestler Rıza Kayaalp, who returned to the mat after 610 days and reached the European Championship final for the 15th time, won the gold medal in the Greco-Roman style 130 kg category, achieving his 13th European championship.
PRESIDENT ERDOĞAN CALLS KAYAALP
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called national athlete Rıza Kayaalp, who made history by winning his 13th European championship at the 2026 European Wrestling Championships held in Albania, to congratulate him over the phone.
"IT BECAME A RECORD, I CONGRATULATE YOU"
National wrestler Rıza Kayaalp defeated Hungarian Darius Attila Vitek in the Greco-Roman style 130 kg final of the 2026 European Wrestling Championships held in Tirana, the capital of Albania, achieving his 13th championship. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called Rıza Kayaalp, who made history, to congratulate him over the phone. President Erdoğan said, "Your championship made us happy. May God be your companion and helper. It became a record, I congratulate you. Greetings to your family. Thank you, may you be well. I kiss your eyes."
"WE KEPT OUR PROMISE"
Rıza Kayaalp stated, "Mr. President, we broke the record. You promised us a facility, and we promised you a record. We kept our promise. Thank you."