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Muhammed Eren Uysal, a national athlete from Türkiye with Down syndrome, is getting ready for new competitions after breaking three world records at the 2026 SU-DS World Championship in Sofia, Bulgaria, held from June 13 to 19.
At the event, organized by the World Down Syndrome Sports Federation (SU-DS), Uysal won six gold medals and one bronze.
Uysal started athletics five years ago after officials from the Türkiye Special Athletes Sports Federation noticed his potential.
Since then, he has won more than 60 medals in competitions both in Türkiye and abroad.
Now, Uysal is aiming to set new world records at the 2027 European Championship in Poland and the 2028 World Down Syndrome Sports Games, also called the Trisome Games, in Mexico.
Uysal trains six days a week at the Konya Athletics Complex. He told Anadolu Agency that he plans to stay in the sport for many years.
"My family also supports me. I won six golds and one bronze at the championship in Bulgaria. I broke a world record there by running the 1,500 meters in under six minutes," Uysal said. "I want to win medals and break world records at the competitions in Poland and Mexico. I will keep collecting medals for Türkiye."
Savas Baghan, an athletics coach at the Türkiye Special Athletes Sports Federation, said the federation first noticed Uysal after he won medals at a championship in Antalya.
Baghan pointed out that Uysal was the first athlete to run the 1,500 meters in under six minutes at the championship in Bulgaria.
"This was a great source of pride for us. Uysal also became the first athlete to break three world records at a single world championship. Next year, we are aiming for world records and world titles at the European Championship in Poland. We are also targeting a world title at the 2028 Trisome Games in Mexico. Children with Down syndrome prove a great deal through their determination, and they should be given opportunities. Muhammed Eren was one of these children, and finding and discovering him was important," he said.
Baghan said the Türkiye Special Athletes Sports Federation has been working to include athletes with Down syndrome in the Paralympic Games. He added that the federation hopes they can compete at the 2032 Paralympic Games in Australia.
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