The story of Zeynep Özcan is not uncommon in aspiring athletes the World over.  The main difference we recognise here is the potential and drive that has been achieved to date by this young, Turkish cyclist without recourse to any financial help so far. This is where things must change if her dream for a place in the National Team in her Country’s Olympic team in Tokyo, 2020, is to be realised.

Zeynep is from Kocaeli, epicentre of that terrible earthquake that resulted in so many fatalities in 1999, in Turkey.  She has achieved so much in her cycling career.  She holds licences with Kocaeli Bisiklet ve Doğa Sporları Kulübü lisansı (2014) and Trabzon Gençlik Hizmetleri ve Spor İl Müdürlüğü ferdi lisansı (2015).  She has recently finished runner-up in a prestigious race, the İzmit Dağ Bisikleti Yarışı. Another accolade, fifth position in the Türkiye Üniversiteler Arası Dağ Bisikleti Şampiyonası in Tekirdağ; before Winning the Nilüfer Belediyesi Dağ Bisikleti Şampiyonası in Bursa; and the Kemaliye Dağ Bisikleti in Erzincan.

We appeal to the cycling-loving fraternity or those with either grass-roots sport or interest in Turkey to really help get Zeynep Özcan on “the road to success”.