TurkeyBurak AbacıoğluAmbassadorParalympic Athlete & Triathleteburak.abacioglu@globalwellnessday.org

Burak Abacıoğlu

Burak Abacioglu was born in Gaziantep in 1987. Due to complications at birth he suffered from a muscle injury and could never use his right arm. Until the age of 16, Burak went to Hacettepe University Hospital two times a month and had eight surgeries. As he became an adolescent, Burak had to continuously have physical therapy. Fully determined to succeed, with the support and guidance of his doctor and family, Abacioglu started his professional and licensed sports career. Currently studying Sociology and Sports Law, Burak Abacioglu works at the MediaMarkt Recruitment and Employer Brand Department, carrying out recruitment processes for all stores and headquarters and Internal Customer Satisfaction survey processes, as well as managing the brand perception within the company's digital channels and university campuses. Additionally, Burak has taken part in MediaMarkt's Social Media Hero project as the Athletic Hero. Joining the Yeditepe Disabled Sports Club, Amputee Football team in 2010, Burak became the goalkeeper for two teams for eight years and had many achievements within the Super League, Premier League and Turkish Cup. Starting athletics in 2016, he won a silver and bronze medal during his first Championships in Turkey. Between May and November 2018, Abacioglu participated in 24 difference races. Currently Burak Abacioglu is a licensed athlete in athletics, sailing, triathlon and bicycle with many achievements and is working towards more. Abacioglu’s goals for 2019 include; passing the European and world thresholds in Physically Disabled Athletics, Duathlon Turkey Championship and Triathlon Turkey Championship, as well as participating in the 42 kilometer Paris Marathon on April 14th 2019 and running it under 4 hours, then on May 12th 2019 joining the 21 kilometer relay triathlon in Montenegro and running it under 2 hours and finally receiving a good degree in the Turkish Sailing Championship to participate in the European Paralympic Sailing Championships.