Merve Tuncel

Class:
Freshman
Position:
Distance
High School:
Nermin Mehmet Gelic Anadolu Lisesi
Hometown:
Ankara, Turkey

2024-25: During the dual meet season, Merve swa distance for the Cardinals. At the Ohio State Invitational, she finished 16^th in the 1650 (16:49.08). Versus Missouri, she was second in the 500 free (4:55.32) and was third in the 1000 free against Kentucky (9:54.14). She was fifth in the 1000 against Indiana (10.03.00) and won the 500 free at the Last Chance Meet with a 4:55.80.

Prep: Training with the ENKA sports club, Tuncel broke the world junior record in the 1500-meter freestyle, previously held by Australian Chelsea Gubecka, at the Turkey Arena Short Course Youth and Open Age Swimming Championships in Istanbul in December 2020. In 2020, after first achieving the Olympic A cut in the 1500-meter freestyle, she went on to secure the A cut for the Tokyo Olympics in the 400-meter and 800-meter freestyle as well. She represented her country by competing in the 400, 800, 1500 and 4x200-meter freestyle relay events at the Tokyo Olympics. Additionally, she was the flag bearer at the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony, being the youngest athlete. At the 2021 European Junior Championships in Rome, Italy, Tuncel won tjhree gold medals in the 400-meter, 800-meter, and 1500-meter freestyle events, becoming the first swimmer in history to achieve this at the same championship. She also broke the European junior records with times of 8:21.91 in the 800-meter freestyle and 15:55.23 in the 1500-meter freestyle. She additionally secured a bronze medal in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay. In July 2022, at the 19th Mediterranean Games in Algeria, Tuncel represented Turkey in the women's 800-meter freestyle, winning a gold medal with a time of 8:26.80, becoming the first Turkish female swimmer to win the title in the history of the Games. She also claimed bronze medals in the 200-meter butterfly and 4x200-meter freestyle relay. In August of the same year, at the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games in Konya, she won gold medals in the 200-meter, 400-meter, 800-meter, and 1500-meter freestyle events, setting a new Islamic Solidarity Games record with a time of 8:40.14 in the 800-meter freestyle. She also won gold medals in the 4x100-meter and 4x200-meter freestyle relay events, returning with a total of 6 gold medals and a record. At the European Aquatics Championships held in Rome from August 11-17, 2022, Tuncel won a bronze medal in the 800-meter freestyle. She continued to make Turkey proud by winning 3 gold medals in the 400-meter, 800-meter, and 1500-meter freestyle events at the World Junior Swimming Championships held in Peru from August 30 to September 4, 2022. Additionally, she placed 4th in the 200-meter freestyle final. At the Turkey Arena Short Course Youth and Open Age Swimming Championships, held from December 25-29, she won gold medals in the 1500-meter, 800-meter, and 400-meter freestyle events, a silver medal in the 200-meter freestyle, a silver medal in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay , a silver medal in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay, and a bronze medal in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay. At the European Junior Swimming Championships held in Belgrade, Serbia, from July 4-9, 2023, Tuncel became European Champion for the third consecutive time by winning the 1500-meter freestyle. She also won a gold medal in the 800-meter freestyle and a silver medal in the 400-meter freestyle, bringing home 3 medals and the European Championship title.

Personal: She is the daughter of Adolet and Sulhi Tuncel. She was born January 1, 2005. Her major is Business