Ekrem Boyalı

Ekrem Boyalı was born on 15 July 1970 in Konya, Turkey. In 1998, Boyalı went to the United States to complete his university education.[2] Upon returning home after three years, he was appointed a lecturer at Selçuk University in Konya.[2] In 2009, he earned a PhD degree[3] in Exercise physiology from the Institute of Health Science at Selçuk University with a thesis on "The effect of vitamin E application on the levels of lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes and lactate during acute Taekwondo exercise".[4]

He is married with Ayşegül Ergin, also a world and European championship medalist.[5]

He began with Taekwondo following the footsteps of his older brother Osman Boyalı in 1983.[2] After four years of hard training at his brother's sports club, he was admitted to the national team.[2][3] Later, he became captain of the Turkey team.[2]

At the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, he competed for Turkey, and became the runner-up after losing to Kim Byong-Cheol from South Korea in the final game.[2][6] The Taekwondo competitions were held as demonstration sport, and therefore no medals were awarded.

Boyalı served as coach of the Turkey national team after leaving the active sport.[2][7] Later, he coached the Bulgaria national team.[3][6]

• 1988 European Championships – Ankara, Turkey −54 kg (youth)[1]
• 1990 European Championships – Aarhus, Denmark −54 kg[1]
• 1991 World Cup – Zagreb, Croatia −58 kg[1]
• 1991 World Championships – Athens, Greece −58 kg[2]
• 1992 European Championships – Valencia, Spain −64 kg[1]
• 1992 Pre-Olympian Games – Barcelona, Spain −64 kg[1]
• 1994 World Cup – George Town, Cayman Islands, United Kingdom −64 kg[1]
• 1996 European Championships – Helsinki, Finland −64 kg[1]
• 1997 World Championships – Hong Kong, British Hong Kong −64 kg[2]