TurkeyBiography
Turkey's first-ever European champion in a sprint event. Olympian. National record holder.
Grew up in Mersin where she started athletics with guidance of Cüneyt Yüksel, leading coach in the region. Became European U23 Champion in 2007, then shows up her talent in Beijing Olympics, where she stands at semis. Continued her progress on sprint hurdling, became first Turkish women to run under 13 secs, then became European Champion in Barcelona by clocking still-standing (12.63) national record.
She retained her title in Helsinki and made an Olympics final in London (run 12.58 twice there). But all those achievements were annulled after her doping case in 2013. The ban processed back-dated for eight months, which included 2012 European gold, Olympics final and 2013 European Indoor title.
Served three-years ban, Yanıt back to the track in 2016 to qualify Olympics once more, but she did not managed. She retired from athletics after Islamic Solidarity Games 2017.
PERSONAL BESTS:
100m: 11.71, -1.7 (2008)
200m: 23.96, -1.9 (2008)
100m hurdles: 12.63, -0.5 (2010)
TRIVIA
♦ Mersin Athletics Stadium named after her following ground-breaking gold in Barcelona. Nevin Yanıt Athletics Komplex hosted to Mediterranean Games in 2013.
♦ Biggest regret was could not to compete in home city at the 2013 Mediterranean Games due to ban.
♦ Married to sports professional Serkan Baltacı (No relation with hammer thrower Özkan Baltacı). Gave birth a girl in 2019.
♦ She represented Fenerbahçe Club in during all professional career. Only other club she competed is Yüksel Spor, a local club in Mersin.