Dervis Konuralp
Encyclopedia
Dervis Konuralp is a British
Paralympic
swimmer
who has represented Great Britain at four Paralympic Games
, three World Championship
s and four European Championships.
to a Turkish Cypriot father and an English
mother. At the age of nine, Dervis was diagnosed with an eye condition called Macular Dystrophy Startgarts, which meant that he was losing the use of his central vision in both eyes. After learning of his visual impairment, Konuralp began to learn how to swim with his primary school.
Konuralp's swimming career has seen him represent Great Britain
in four Paralympic Games
. The first of which was at the age of only 15 years old, at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games
. Konuralp has also competed at three World Championships and four European Championships, winning a total of 35 major international medals, 14 of which Gold. He became World Champion and World record holder at just 17 years of age.
Konuralp is a London 2012 Olympic
and 2012 Paralympic
Ambassador. As part of this role, Konuralp delivers motivational keynote speeches in various environments. These include schools, sports clubs, after dinner events and corporate events.
Konuralp graduated from City University (University of London) in Computer Science (BSc).
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Paralympic
Paralympic Games
The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete; this includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately following their...
swimmer
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
who has represented Great Britain at four Paralympic Games
Paralympic Games
The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete; this includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately following their...
, three World Championship
Paralympic World Cup
The Paralympic World Cup is an annual international multi-sport event for elite athletes with a disability, that has been hosted in Manchester, England since 2005. It is organized by the British Paralympic Association in coordination with the International Paralympic Committee .As of 2011, the...
s and four European Championships.
Biography
Konuralp was born in HackneyLondon Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
to a Turkish Cypriot father and an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
mother. At the age of nine, Dervis was diagnosed with an eye condition called Macular Dystrophy Startgarts, which meant that he was losing the use of his central vision in both eyes. After learning of his visual impairment, Konuralp began to learn how to swim with his primary school.
Konuralp's swimming career has seen him represent Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
in four Paralympic Games
Paralympic Games
The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete; this includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately following their...
. The first of which was at the age of only 15 years old, at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games
1996 Summer Paralympics
The 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta, USA were held from 16 August to 25 August. It was the first Paralympics to get mass media sponsorship, and had a budget of USD $81 million....
. Konuralp has also competed at three World Championships and four European Championships, winning a total of 35 major international medals, 14 of which Gold. He became World Champion and World record holder at just 17 years of age.
Konuralp is a London 2012 Olympic
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the "London 2012 Olympic Games", are scheduled to take place in London, England, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012...
and 2012 Paralympic
2012 Summer Paralympics
The 2012 Summer Paralympic Games will be the fourteenth Paralympics and will take place between 29 August and 9 September 2012. The Games will be held in London, United Kingdom after the city was successful with its bid for the Paralympics and Summer Olympic Games.Even though 2012 will be London's...
Ambassador. As part of this role, Konuralp delivers motivational keynote speeches in various environments. These include schools, sports clubs, after dinner events and corporate events.
Konuralp graduated from City University (University of London) in Computer Science (BSc).