Gülbin Su

Lore & Background

Gülbin Su was born to an Arab Alawite family in Samandağ district of Hatay Province on 7 June 1971. She contracted poliomyelitis at age three, resulting in her disability. She graduated in Job Training from the Faculty of Education at Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University and works as a painting teacher in an elementary school in Reyhanlı, Hatay.

Her archery career began in 2002 by chance while she was waiting at a bus stop; a national team coach passing by contacted her, and she accepted the offer the next day. She competes with a compound bow and shoots right-handed. Su debuted internationally in 2006, winning a silver medal at the 4th EPC Archery Championships in Nymburk, Czech Republic. The following year she earned a bronze medal at the 2007 World Para-archery Championships in Cheongju, South Korea.

At the 2008 Summer Paralympics, she set a Paralympic record in the quarterfinals of the women's individual compound event but placed fourth after losing to Mel Clarke of England in the bronze medal match. In 2009 she became champion at the 'Monda Villa' Tournament. She competed at the 2012 London Paralympics, losing to Russian Maria Lyzhnikova in the quarterfinals. In 2014, she won a bronze medal with teammates Burcu Dağ and Handan Biroğlu in the Compound Women Open Team event at the European Para Archery Championships in Nottwil, Switzerland.

Reader's Guide

Gülbin Su's significance lies in her pioneering role as a Turkish Paralympic archer who achieved international success despite a late start in the sport. Her chance encounter with a national team coach at a bus stop in 2002 led to a career that saw her set a Paralympic record in the quarterfinals of the 2008 Summer Paralympics, a notable feat for a competitor who had only been shooting for six years. Her bronze medal at the 2007 World Para-archery Championships and silver at the 2006 EPC Archery Championships established her as a consistent medal contender in compound bow events. Su's legacy includes representing Turkey at two Paralympic Games (2008 and 2012) and contributing to a team bronze medal at the 2014 European Para Archery Championships. Her story highlights how serendipity can launch a sporting career, and her achievements have brought attention to Paralympic archery in Turkey. As a painting teacher balancing sport with her profession, she exemplifies the dedication required to compete at the highest level while maintaining a career outside athletics.