Turkey was able to provide a better compensation package.
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Sinem Kurtbay represented Finland at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics. Image: Esa Fills / Yle
Competitive sailor Sinem Kurtbay, who represented Finland at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, will from now on compete for her other home country, Turkey.
The news follows earlier reports that Kurtbay was stepping away from the Finnish national team.
“We fully understand Sinem’s decision and give her our full support. That she can, as a dual citizen, choose to represent one country over Finland does not make her any less Finnish. Instead, it highlights the harsh reality of funding elite sports and sailing in Finland. This is something we need to change,” said Mats Welin, chair of an association for sailing and boating in Finland, in a press release.
At the turn of the year, during the World Championships in the Moth class, Kurtbay said she realised she wanted to pursue sailing full-time.
“I’m at a point in my life where I want to start a family and be able to support myself. That led me, this spring, to reconsider the Turkish offer,” she explained.
Despite switching national teams, Kurtbay said she still sees herself primarily as Finnish.
“Finnish sailing has given me so much, and that’s why this decision was difficult,” she explained. “At the same time, this is a chance for me to strengthen my connection to my other nationality and the country where I first learned to sail.”