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Family Husband Andrea Baldini
Other names Irem Karamete Baldini
Residence Turin, ITA
Occupation Athlete, Marketing
Languages English, Italian, Turkish
Higher education Industrial Engineering - Ozyegin University: Istanbul, TUR
License number 20061993001
Club
When and where did you begin this sport? She began fencing at age 10 in 2004.
Why this sport? She followed her family into the sport. "I come from a family that has a sporting culture. My mother was an Olympic fencer and my father was her coach. They never forced me to take up fencing. I did a lot of sports other than fencing, but eventually I found myself in the sport. If I didn't do fencing I would've loved to have done ballet. Unfortunately my heavy fencing schedule did not allow me to try other sports."
Name of coach Andrea Baldini [husband], ITA
Training Regime "I do physical training five days a week. My workouts usually start with 30-40 minutes of warm up. I also complete most of my mental work during the warm-up process. I take private lessons for 30 minutes every day."
Handedness Right
Nicknames Iros (baku2015.com, 24 Jun 2015)
Memorable sporting achievement Qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Games. (Facebook profile, 29 Mar 2021)
Most influential person in career Her husband Andrea Baldini. (Facebook profile, 29 Mar 2021)
Hero / Idol Her mother Nili Drori. (dailysabah.com, 12 Jul 2016)
Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs She listens to music before training sessions and competitions. (marmaraeskrim.com, 16 Nov 2019)
Sporting philosophy / motto "I like to see the things that I earned, and it motivates me. There are a few other motivational tactics I use. For example, working with a psychologist motivates me. Writing is also an important source of motivation that I have used. I always write about my feelings from time to time. I write down the matches I won and skim before starting the game. This sometimes brings to mind the tough matches that I need at that moment but cannot remember, and it gives me more encouragement. Finally, communication is very important to me. Talking to my coach motivates me." (marmaraeskrim.com, 16 Nov 2019)
Famous relatives Her sister Merve Karamete has represented Turkey in fencing, and finished 27th in foil at the 2017 World Cup event in Antalya, Turkey. Her mother Nili Drori competed in fencing at the 1976 and 1984 Olympic Games representing Israel. Her father Mehmet has coached the German national fencing team. Her husband Andrea Baldini has represented Italy in fencing, winning silver in team foil at the 2016 European Championships in Torun, Poland. (Andrea Baldini Instagram profile, 17 Jan 2021; gazeteduvar.com.tr, 29 Oct 2019; SportsDeskOnline, 06 Jul 2018; dailysabah.com, 12 Jul 2016; onedio.com, 19 Apr 2016; paratripost.com, 19 Jun 2015)
Ambitions To win a medal at the Olympic Games. (haberinsonnoktasi.com, 01 Jan 2021)
Other information ENDING THE WAIT
She became the first Turkish fencer in 32 years to compete at the Olympic Games when she participated in individual foil at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. "I worked hard for this. Turkey did not send any fencers to the Olympic Games since 1984. Ending the wait made me very happy. Showing that it can be achieved was one of my biggest dreams." (gazeteduvar.com.tr, 29 Oct 2019; SportsDeskOnline, 08 Jul 2018)
FURTHER EDUCATION
After completing a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering at Ozyegin University in Istanbul, Turkey, she studied for a master's degree in global marketing management at Boston University in the United States of America. (LinkedIn profile, 01 Oct 2022; gazeteduvar.com.tr, 29 Oct 2019; pianetascherma.com, 19 Jul 2018)
OTHER ACTIVITIES
In 2022 she became president of the athletes' commission at the European Fencing Confederation. (eurofencing.info, 01 Jan 2023; Instagram profile, 02 Jul 2022; aa.com.tr, 01 Jul 2022)
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