03.08.2026 22:20
Ömer Kalay, who lost his foot at the age of 15 in a traffic accident, clung to life through sports. Representing Turkey in swimming, sailing, and rowing, Kalay inspires with his success by competing against non-disabled opponents with a sailing team made up entirely of disabled athletes, which he states has no equivalent in the world.
Ömer Kalay, who lives in Bursa, lost his foot when a truck hit him after school at the age of 15. Despite the severe trauma he experienced at a young age, Kalay did not turn his back on life. Years later, he discovered sports and achieved national and international success in swimming, sailing, and rowing.
''MUCH HARDER AT THAT AGE''
Explaining that he recovered quickly after the accident, Kalay said, "I lost my foot at age 15. You lose a foot just as you are moving from adolescence into youth. It's not easy at any age, but it is much harder at that age. Despite this, I pulled myself together in 2-3 months and got back into life."
''WE SUCCEEDED EVEN THOUGH IT SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE''
Stating that he has been interested in water sports since childhood, Kalay said he started participating in swimming competitions in 2011 and swam across the Çanakkale Strait for the first time that same year. Ömer Kalay, who noted that he has crossed the strait 10 times so far, said, "At first it seemed impossible to me, but we succeeded. I swam across the Çanakkale Strait 10 times. This year, after a 10-year break, I will swim it again."
''NONEXISTENT IN TURKEY''
Kalay, who said he got acquainted with disabled sailing in 2019, drew attention to the fact that they established a yacht sailing team consisting entirely of disabled athletes. Emphasizing that their team, which they believe has no equivalent in the world, competes on the same courses as non-disabled athletes, the successful athlete said, "A disabled sailing yacht team doesn't exist in Turkey at all. According to our research, we haven't seen one in the world either. With our team made up entirely of disabled people, we compete against non-disabled athletes. We finished the Winter Trophy in second place and won a cup."
HIS GOAL IS THE NATIONAL TEAM TRIALS
Kalay, who continues his work in rowing as well as sailing, stated that he has been training at the Bursa Rowing Club for about a year and said he aims to compete in the paralympic rowing races to be held in September and participate in the national team trials. Ömer Kalay, who recounted achieving first place in the disabled category at the 86th Galata-Varna Open Water Swimming Marathon held in Bulgaria, said, "There were about 240 athletes from 10 countries. I was the only participant from Turkey. I finished 4,500 meters. Going up to the podium with the Turkish flag to receive the award was a great source of pride for me."
Kalay, who expressed that his family is his biggest supporter, stated that his wife and children give him strength.
Addressing disabled individuals and young people as well, Ömer Kalay explained the transformative effect of sports on his life, saying, "Let them be involved in life. They can achieve this through sports. People who do sports stay away from bad habits. As a disabled person, I want to set an example. Disabilities are not an excuse."