World and Olympic champion Mete Gazoz was the guest of the 50th episode of Corendon Sport Talks. Sharing his journey to success, his mental strength, and the unseen side of championship moments, Gazoz stated, “The real satisfaction does not come from winning, but from being able to experience that feeling again,” offering his perspective on sports and life.
Hosting Mete Gazoz in its 50th episode, Corendon Sport Talks invites viewers on an inspiring journey with this special episode filmed at Antalya’s iconic locations—Düden Waterfalls, Kaleiçi Marina, and Konyaaltı—among Corendon Airlines’ flight destinations.
“Championship lasts 3 minutes…”
Speaking in the 50th episode of Corendon Sport Talks, Mete Gazoz offered an unconventional perspective on the concept of championship:
“What you call a championship actually lasts for a very short time. The feeling you experience at that moment may last 3 minutes, maybe a little longer. But that’s not the main point. What I feel is the sudden end of all the effort I put in and the exhaustion I endured to reach that point. Afterwards, the desire to start again comes. So you don’t say ‘I’ve made it now,’ on the contrary, you say ‘I can do more.’”
“You feel where the arrow will go before you release it”
Speaking about the most critical moment in archery, Mete Gazoz described the unseen effort behind performance with the following words:
“You practice so much that you actually feel where the arrow will go even before you release it. This is not magic. It is the result of hours, days, and years of training. Your hand, your mind, and your body now speak the same language.”
“The only thing I hear at the moment of the shot: ‘Keep going’”
Referring to the role of mental strength in performance, Gazoz shared his inner world during competition with these words:
“When I shoot, I don’t really hear the outside world. At that moment, the clearest thing I hear is my inner voice, and it tells me only one thing: ‘Keep going.’ There is nothing else. No crowd, no opponent, no pressure… Just that moment and that voice.”
“I try to make my opponent feel that no matter what they do, they won’t be able to beat me”
Emphasising that archery is not only physical but also a strong mental game, Mete Gazoz explained the psychological balance he establishes with his opponents as follows:
“During the competition, you don’t only focus on your own shots. At the same time, you also manage your opponent’s psychology. What I do is not to demoralise the opponent, but to distract their attention and keep control in my hands. With my movements, my posture, and my shooting tempo, I try to make my opponent feel this: No matter what they do, they won’t be able to beat me.”
Stating that this strategy is entirely developed through training and experience, Gazoz emphasised that every detail during competition can create an advantage:
“Sometimes I shoot at the last second, sometimes I shoot very quickly. It’s important to disrupt the opponent’s rhythm. But you do this within the rules, without breaking the respect of the sport. Because this is not only physical, it is entirely a mental battle.”
“My greatest achievement is making people say ‘I can do it too’”
Not defining success solely by medals, Mete Gazoz expressed the point he is most proud of as follows:
“For me, the greatest success is when people watch me and say ‘I can do it too.’ A child watching on screen thinking, ‘If I work, I can achieve it too.’ Medals are important, but what is more valuable than that is being able to inspire.”
“People who don’t make an effort bother me”
Emphasising that struggle is the most important element on the road to success, Gazoz clearly expressed his stance on this issue:
“I can’t say anything to people who give up. Because they are already finished at that point. But people who don’t fight and don’t make an effort bother me. Because you see that potential going to waste.”
“My goal for the 2028 Olympics is two gold medals”
Speaking clearly about his future goals, Mete Gazoz revealed his ambition for Los Angeles 2028:
“My goal for the 2028 Olympics is very clear: two gold medals. This is not a dream, it is a goal. We are working for it and we will be ready.”
“Those who come after me need to achieve more”
Seeing his own success as a beginning, Mete Gazoz described his vision for future generations with these words:
“Those who come after me need to achieve more. Only then will the medals I have won become more meaningful. Otherwise, it will just remain as ‘he came, he won, and he left.’”
A broadcast series that adds value to sports: Corendon Sport Talks
Corendon Airlines, which has brought numerous innovations to the aviation and tourism sectors and flies millions of guests to their dream holiday destinations, has released the 50th episode of its Corendon Sport Talks video series. In this special project, which centres on the unifying power of sports, the inspiring stories of figures who have left their mark on Turkish sports history are brought to the screen.
This special episode of Corendon Sport Talks can be watched on YouTube with English subtitles and sign language support: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyHI-Gz4eaM
