Türkiye's Adem Asil: Lifechanging decisions in his quest for greatness
'I feel Turkish in gymnastics, but in life, Egypt remains very close to my heart,' is the short version of Adem Asil's story. The long version, featuring the gymnast previously known as Abdelrahman El Zamzamy, is something else.
Artistic Gymnastics
If success can be willed into existence by sheer force of will, Türkiye gymnast Adem Asil has achieved it.
From 37th in the men's all-around competition at the 2017 World Championships in Montreal representing Egypt to world gold medallist on still rings at the 2022 edition for Türkiye, the now 24-year-old changed everything, literally everything, in order to achieve his dream of making himself known on the artistic gymnastics world stage.
He changed his name, his nation – his whole life.
And he wants more.
After becoming an Olympian in 2020, winning the world title on his specialist apparatus two years later, and going on to become European all-around champion in 2023, the next stage of his journey will be at the World Gymnastics Championships taking place in Antwerp, Belgium, where he'll defend his rings title.
Yet his dreams go beyond that.
"I won't quit my gymnastics until I become Olympic champion," Asil said, smiling at the reporters who surrounded him after he made history at the European Championships in Antalya in April, becoming the first Turkish gymnast to win an all-around title at the continental championships, in front of an ecstatic home crowd, too.
"If it happens in Paris, that's it for my life in gymnastics."
Adem Asil's Paris 2024 team dream
But first he needs to get there, and he wants more than an individual qualification spot as secured at Tokyo 2020 alongside Ferhat Arican – the first Turkish male gymnast since Aleko Mulos in 1908 to qualify for an Olympic Games with a spot at Rio 2016 – İbrahim Çolak and Ahmet Önder.
This time, the squad wants to become their nation's first-ever men's team to qualify for an Olympic Games.
To do that, they must come in the top nine nations at the upcoming World Championships – excluding People's Republic of China, Japan and Great Britain who have already secured quota berths for a five person team for the Games in France courtesy of respective 1-2-3 finishes at the 2022 Worlds.
Gymnasts will be selected for the team by the National Olympic Committee closer to Games-time.
The competition in Belgium is the last chance to qualify as one of the 12 twelve teams who will compete for honours at Paris 2024, and the Türkiye team are not shy in announcing their goal.
During podium training at the Worlds on Wednesday (27 September), the team, which includes Arican and Önder, wore matching T-shirts, the slogan saying it all: "Paris 2024 loading".
As Asil put it: "I don't have personal goals like being world champion or defending my (rings) title. I don't have any thoughts about this: it's all about the first day (Saturday 30 September) and the team."
- Click here to see the official qualification system for each sport.
- As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes' participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.
European team bronze medallists Türkiye in 2022
New start, new name for Adem Asil
Born in Alexandria, Egypt, Adem Asil was born Abdelrahman El Zamzamy. At 18, he finished 37th in the all-around competition at the 2017 World Championships in Montreal and did not advance to any event final.
He wanted more.
When his coach, Yılmaz Göktekin, moved to Türkiye to train a crop of exciting new prospects including Colak, Arican and Önder, an opportunity arose to join them.
El Zamzamy did not hesitate to follow his mentor but his "unshakeable belief" was tested.
For two years, he trained hard, unable to compete on the world stage as he waited for his citizenship to come through.
When official confirmation came, El Zamzamy wanted a completely new start, so he changed his name, initially to Abdelrahman Elgamal, the name under which he competed for Türkiye at the 2020 European Championship. But in 2021, he changed it again, to Adem Asil.
"I changed my country to become something very important in the world," explained Asil at the European Championships in his new homeland in April. "I want my name to be known all over the world. I think that's why that's the reason that I changed my name because I wanted to be a new gymnast for everyone."
Adem Asil Turkiye gymnast competing on floor exercise
Hard work pays off for Adem Asil
This remodelled gymnast had plans - big plans – and worked exceptionally hard to achieve them.
"I think I'm not that talented, but I work very hard," revealed Asil. "I think I work smartly as well because sometimes I know my teammates are working so hard and they push us so much, but I always become smart, and I always listen to my body."
Being talented yet wasteful is pointless, says Asil. "I believe that if you are talented and you are not working hard, it's nothing. But if you are not talented and you are really working so hard and you really want it, you will be something very important. That's the gymnast I am, that's why I changed my country."
His hard work is increasingly paying off, enabling him to secure all-around gold at the European Championships ahead of GB rising star Jake Jarman.
"I haven't been in that situation before actually," Asil said post competition. "But I just believed in my work because I really worked so much for this moment and I just told myself, come on, let's do it. It's just one more (routine) to go. And, yeah, I did my best. And when I came down, you saw my scream and I couldn't believe it. Just a dream came true. And it's a historical medal for me and for Türkiye as well."
Even more thrilling was his teammates hoisting him in the air in celebration, the crowd cheering and singing in celebration, in acknowledgement of his history-making moment for the Türkiye team.
That family-like atmosphere helps Asil cope with the sacrifices made in his quest for greatness.
"I just want to remember the support from my colleagues, from my teammates, from the country that accepted me to be one of them," said Asil after winning the European title. "And of course, for my family, because they supported me so much. I haven't seen my family for like five years."
When asked if he felt more Turkish or Egyptian, Asil said: "It's very difficult because (Egypt) is also my country. I have been in Egypt for a long time and all my friends, my school, my family are there, but the country that supported me and really believed in me is Türkiye.
"So I accept myself as Turkish more than as an Egyptian in gymnastics but in life, of course, Egypt is really so close to my heart because it's my childhood country."
That melding of nationalities becomes clear in what Asil says next.
"My team-mates call me Abdel; the Adem is just for gymnastics."