Olympic sailor Sinem Kurtbay, who has represented Finland at two Summer Games, will now compete under the Turkish flag.
Kurtbay’s move ends her career with Team Finland, where she competed at both the Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024 Olympics. She holds dual citizenship and will now represent her other home country, Turkey.
The decision, confirmed on Thursday, was driven by a lack of sufficient financial support in Finland for elite athletes.
“At the World Championships at the start of the year, I realised I wanted to make sailing my full-time career,” Kurtbay said in a statement. “I’m at a point in my life where I want to start a family and be financially secure. That’s what made me take a serious look at the offer from Turkey this spring.”
She acknowledged the emotional difficulty of the move but said it was necessary to continue her athletic development.
“Finnish sailing has given me so much, and that’s why this decision was difficult,” she said. “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.”
Turkey’s offer reportedly includes a more comprehensive compensation package, allowing her to pursue a full-time training programme and long-term career planning.
Mats Welin, chair of the Finnish Sailing and Boating Federation, expressed understanding for her choice and highlighted broader concerns about sports funding.
“We fully understand Sinem’s decision and give her our full support,” Welin said. “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.”
Kurtbay’s departure is a rare high-profile loss for Finland’s Olympic programme and reflects wider pressures in international sport, where financial security can determine an athlete’s allegiance.
Kurtbay began sailing in Turkey before moving to Finland as a child. She is a former European champion and was regarded as one of Finland’s most experienced Olympic sailors.
HT