Neslihan Demir (born 9 December 1983) is a retired
Turkish
Turkish may refer to:
*a Turkic language spoken by the Turks
* of or about Turkey
** Turkish language
*** Turkish alphabet
** Turkish people, a Turkic ethnic group and nation
*** Turkish citizen, a citizen of Turkey
*** Turkish communities and mi ...
volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules. It has been a part of the official program of the Summ ...
star. She is one of the most successful athletes of
Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...
and has been among
FIVB Heroes. She represented her country as the flag bearer at the
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad and also known as London 2012) was an international multi-sport event held from 27 July to 12 August 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. The first event, the ...
and the official advertisement face of Turkey for the
2020 Summer Olympics
The , officially the and also known as , was an international multi-sport event held from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan, with some preliminary events that began on 21 July.
Tokyo was selected as the host city during the ...
candidateship along with basketballer
Hedo Türkoğlu
Hidayet "Hedo" Türkoğlu (; born March 19, 1979) is a Turkish basketball executive and former professional player. A forward, Türkoğlu played for six teams in his 15-season career in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He won the NBA ...
. She was a left-handed opposite hitter and won numerous individual awards in the international tournaments. She studied at
Gazi University
Gazi University ( tr, Gazi Üniversitesi) is a public university primarily located in Ankara, Turkey.
It was established in 1926 by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk as Gazi Teacher Training Institute. In 1982, it was reorganized by merging with the Bolu ...
.
Career
Neslihan Demir started playing volleyball at Eskişehir DSİ Bentspor in 1995. She played for
Yeşilyurt,
VakıfBank Güneş Sigorta,
Spar Tenerife Marichal,
Eczacıbaşı
Eczacıbaşı Holding is a Turkish industrial group of companies founded in 1942. The group with 44 companies has 11,400 employees and a combined net turnover of TL 11.1 billion in 2020.
Group
Eczacıbaşı's core sectors are building products, ...
and
Galatasaray
Galatasaray Spor Kulübü (, ''Galatasaray Sports Club'') is a Turkish sports club based on the European side of the city of Istanbul in Turkey. Most notable for its association football department, the club also consists of various other de ...
during her career. She played hundreds of times for
Turkish national team at all age levels.
At age 19, Demir was the leading player in the Turkish team that won silver medal at the
2003 European Championship in Turkey making her a star in her home country and in the volleyball scene. Her popularity increased immensely during
2003 World Cup where she was 2nd in Best Scorer and Best Server rankings. Owing to the her powerful spikes and serves, she was nicknamed as Demir Leydi (The Iron Lady) which is a reference to her family name Demir.
Playing with VakıfBank Güneş Sigorta she won
CEV Top Teams Cup
The CEV Cup is the second tier official competition for men's Volleyball clubs of Europe. The competition takes place every year.
Until 2000, it was the CEV Cup Winners' Cup. In 2000 it was renamed CEV Top Teams Cup and in 2007 it was renamed CE ...
and was named as MVP in 2004. Later, she was awarded Best Scorer in CEV Champions League in 2006. While playing for Tenerife, Demir took a break from volleyball to become a mother in 2007–08 season.
She was awarded Best Scorer at the
2006 World Championship and
2010 World Championship consecutively. She is the first and only volleyball player to achieve this feat.
Demir won two
FIVB Club World Championship and a
CEV Champions League
The CEV Champions League is the top official competition for men's volleyball clubs from the whole of Europe. The competition is organised every year by the European Volleyball Confederation.
Formula (2018–19 to present) Qualification
A tot ...
championships with Eczacıbaşı. She won the Best Spiker award at the
2013-14 CEV Champions League.
Demir was awarded Sportsperson of the Year by
Milliyet
''Milliyet'' ( Turkish for "''nationality''") is a Turkish daily newspaper published in Istanbul, Turkey.
History and profile
''Milliyet'' came to publishing life at the Nuri Akça press in Babıali, Istanbul as a daily private newspaper on 3 ...
in 2006 and Volleyball Player of the Year by
Sabah
Sabah () is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia located in northern Borneo, in the region of East Malaysia. Sabah borders the Malaysian state of Sarawak to the southwest and the North Kalimantan province of Indone ...
in 2003 and 2004. At the
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad and also known as London 2012) was an international multi-sport event held from 27 July to 12 August 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. The first event, the ...
, she was chosen to be the flagbearer of
her home country. She was named The Ultimate Volleyball Team Leader and honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award at CEV European Volleyball Gala ceremonies in 2014 and 2019 respectively.
Demir was selected as FIVB Hero by FIVB in 2012. She was also selected for Roster 100 by FIVB as one of the 100 most influential volleyball players between 2010 and 2020, being one of the eight female opposite hitters in the selection.
Personal life
Neslihan Demir married Orkun Darnel, captain of the
Galatasaray Swimming
Galatasaray Swimming Team is the men's and women's swimming (sport), swimming section of Galatasaray S.K., a major sports club in Istanbul, Turkey.
Technical and managerial staff
Current squad
Galatasaray swimming team
International success
...
team, on 16 July 2006. The couple have a daughter named Zeynep Penelope. Orkun Darnel became manager of
Galatasaray Daikin
Galatasaray HDI Sigorta is the women's volleyball section of Galatasaray SK, a major sports club in Istanbul, Turkey. Galatasaray play their matches in the 7000-seat arena TVF Burhan Felek Sport Hall.
Previous names
Due to sponsorship, the club ...
women's volleyball team later. The couple announced their divorce in March 2013. Demir has been married to actor Kamil Güler since 17 June 2014. After retiring from professional volleyball, she worked as a consultant in the Turkish Volleyball Federation. Soon afterwards she took up the position of General Manager at her former club Vakıfbank in 2020.
Clubs
* Eskişehir DSİ Bentspor (1995-1998)
*
Yeşilyurt (1998-2002)
*
Vakıfbank Güneş Sigorta (2002-2006)
*
Spar Tenerife Marichal (2006-2008)
*
Vakıfbank Güneş Sigorta (2008-2010)
*
Eczacıbaşı VitrA
Eczacıbaşı Holding is a Turkish industrial group of companies founded in 1942. The group with 44 companies has 11,400 employees and a combined net turnover of TL 11.1 billion in 2020.
Group
Eczacıbaşı's core sectors are building products, ...
(2010-2017)
*
Galatasaray
Galatasaray Spor Kulübü (, ''Galatasaray Sports Club'') is a Turkish sports club based on the European side of the city of Istanbul in Turkey. Most notable for its association football department, the club also consists of various other de ...
(2017-2018)
Awards
Individuals
* ''2002-2003 Indesit Champions League "Best Scorer"''
* ''2002-2003 Indesit Champions League "Best Server"''
* ''2003-2004 Top Teams Cup Final Four "Most Valuable Player"''
* ''2003-2004 Top Teams Cup Final Four "Best Server"''
* ''2005-2006 Indesit Champions League "Best Server"''
* ''2005-2006 Indesit Champions League Final Four "Best Scorer"''
* ''
2006 World Championship "Best Scorer"''
* ''
2007 Montreux Volley Masters "Best Scorer"''
* ''
2007 Boris Yeltsin Cup "Most Valuable Player"''
* ''2008 FIVB World Grand Prix European Qualification "Best Scorer"''
* ''
2009 European Volleyball League "Most Valuable Player"''
* ''
2009 European Volleyball League "Best Scorer"''
* ''2009-2010 Indesit Champions League Preliminary Round "Best Scorer"''
* ''
2010 European Volleyball League "Best Scorer"''
* ''
2010 World Championship "Best Scorer"''
* ''2011 FIVB World Grand Prix European Qualification "Best Scorer"''
* ''2011 FIVB World Grand Prix European Qualification "Most Valuable Player"''
* ''
2011 European Championship "Best Scorer"''
* ''
2012 FIVB World Grand Prix "Best Server"''
* ''
2013-14 CEV Champions League "Best Spiker"''
National team
*
2003 European Championship – Silver Medal
*
2005 Mediterranean Games
The XVth Mediterranean Games Almería 2005 (XV Juegos del Mediterráneo 2005 in Spanish), commonly known as the 2005 Mediterranean Games, were the 15th Mediterranean Games. The Games were held in Almería, Spain over 10 days, from 24 June to 3 Ju ...
– Gold Medal
*
2009 Mediterranean Games
The 2009 Mediterranean Games, officially the XVI Mediterranean Games ( it, XVI Giochi del Mediterraneo) and commonly known as Pescara 2009, was a multi-sport event held in Pescara, Italy, from 26 June to 5 July 2009. It was governed by the Inte ...
– Silver Medal
*
2009 European League – Silver Medal
*
2010 European League – Bronze Medal
*
2011 European League – Silver Medal
*
2011 European Championship – Bronze Medal
*
2012 FIVB World Grand Prix
The 2012 FIVB World Grand Prix was a women's volleyball tournament played by 16 countries starting 8 June 2012. The finals were held at the Beilun Sports and Arts Centre in Ningbo, China.CSVFIVB announces pools for 2012 World Grand Prix(In Spanis ...
– Bronze Medal
*
2013 Mediterranean Games
The 2013 Mediterranean Games ( tr, 2013 Akdeniz Oyunları), officially known as the XVII Mediterranean Games ( tr, XVII Akdeniz Oyunları) and commonly known as Mersin 2013, was an international multi-sport event held from 20 to 30 June 2013 i ...
– Silver Medal
Clubs
* 2003-04 Turkish Championship – Champion, with
Vakifbank Günes Sigorta Istanbul
* 2003-04
CEV Top Teams Cup
The CEV Cup is the second tier official competition for men's Volleyball clubs of Europe. The competition takes place every year.
Until 2000, it was the CEV Cup Winners' Cup. In 2000 it was renamed CEV Top Teams Cup and in 2007 it was renamed CE ...
– Champion, with
Vakifbank Günes Sigorta Istanbul
* 2004-05 Turkish Championship – Champion, with
Vakifbank Günes Sigorta Istanbul
* 2005-06 Turkish Championship – Runner-up, with
Vakifbank Günes Sigorta Istanbul
* 2006-07 Spanish Championship – Runner-up, with
Spar Tenerife Marichal
*
2006-2007 CEV Champions League – Bronze Medal with
Spar Tenerife Marichal
* 2008 Spanish Super Cup – Champion, with
Spar Tenerife Marichal
* 2009-2010 Turkish Championship – Runner-up, with
Vakifbank Günes Sigorta Istanbul
* 2011 Turkish Cup – Champion, with
Eczacıbaşı VitrA
Eczacıbaşı Holding is a Turkish industrial group of companies founded in 1942. The group with 44 companies has 11,400 employees and a combined net turnover of TL 11.1 billion in 2020.
Group
Eczacıbaşı's core sectors are building products, ...
* 2011 Turkish Super Cup – Champion, with
Eczacıbaşı VitrA
Eczacıbaşı Holding is a Turkish industrial group of companies founded in 1942. The group with 44 companies has 11,400 employees and a combined net turnover of TL 11.1 billion in 2020.
Group
Eczacıbaşı's core sectors are building products, ...
* 2011-2012 Turkish Championship – Champion, with
Eczacıbaşı VitrA
Eczacıbaşı Holding is a Turkish industrial group of companies founded in 1942. The group with 44 companies has 11,400 employees and a combined net turnover of TL 11.1 billion in 2020.
Group
Eczacıbaşı's core sectors are building products, ...
* 2012 Turkish Cup – Champion, with
Eczacıbaşı VitrA
Eczacıbaşı Holding is a Turkish industrial group of companies founded in 1942. The group with 44 companies has 11,400 employees and a combined net turnover of TL 11.1 billion in 2020.
Group
Eczacıbaşı's core sectors are building products, ...
* 2012 Turkish Volleyball Super Cup – Champion, with
Eczacıbaşı VitrA
Eczacıbaşı Holding is a Turkish industrial group of companies founded in 1942. The group with 44 companies has 11,400 employees and a combined net turnover of TL 11.1 billion in 2020.
Group
Eczacıbaşı's core sectors are building products, ...
*
2012-2013 Turkish Cup – Runner-up, with
Eczacıbaşı VitrA
Eczacıbaşı Holding is a Turkish industrial group of companies founded in 1942. The group with 44 companies has 11,400 employees and a combined net turnover of TL 11.1 billion in 2020.
Group
Eczacıbaşı's core sectors are building products, ...
* 2012-2013 Turkish Women's Volleyball League – Runner-up, with
Eczacıbaşı VitrA
Eczacıbaşı Holding is a Turkish industrial group of companies founded in 1942. The group with 44 companies has 11,400 employees and a combined net turnover of TL 11.1 billion in 2020.
Group
Eczacıbaşı's core sectors are building products, ...
*
2014-15 CEV Champions League – Champion, with
Eczacıbaşı VitrA
Eczacıbaşı Holding is a Turkish industrial group of companies founded in 1942. The group with 44 companies has 11,400 employees and a combined net turnover of TL 11.1 billion in 2020.
Group
Eczacıbaşı's core sectors are building products, ...
*
2015 FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship
The 2015 FIVB Women's Club World Championship was the 9th edition of the event. It was held in Zurich, Switzerland, from 6 to 10 May 2015. The Turkish club Eczacıbaşı VitrA won the championship.
Qualification
Pools composition
Squads
V ...
– Champion, with
Eczacıbaşı VitrA
Eczacıbaşı Holding is a Turkish industrial group of companies founded in 1942. The group with 44 companies has 11,400 employees and a combined net turnover of TL 11.1 billion in 2020.
Group
Eczacıbaşı's core sectors are building products, ...
*
2016 FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship
The 2016 FIVB Women's Club World Championship was the 10th edition of the event. It was held for the first time in the Philippines, on 18–23 October 2016 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. For the first time, eight teams competed, including four wil ...
– Champion, with
Eczacıbaşı VitrA
Eczacıbaşı Holding is a Turkish industrial group of companies founded in 1942. The group with 44 companies has 11,400 employees and a combined net turnover of TL 11.1 billion in 2020.
Group
Eczacıbaşı's core sectors are building products, ...
See also
*
Turkish women in sports
Turkish women have an active participation in many sports branches and have several important trophies, especially in athletics, weightlifting, combat sports, volleyball and basketball.
Participation in Olympics Pioneers
The first Turkish ...
References
External links
Neslihan Darnelat the
International Volleyball Federation
International is an adjective (also used as a noun) meaning "between nations".
International may also refer to:
Music Albums
* ''International'' (Kevin Michael album), 2011
* ''International'' (New Order album), 2002
* ''International'' (The T ...
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Demir, Neslihan
1983 births
Living people
Sportspeople from Eskişehir
Turkish women's volleyball players
Yeşilyurt volleyballers
VakıfBank S.K. volleyballers
Galatasaray S.K. (women's volleyball) players
Turkish expatriate volleyball players
Turkish expatriate sportspeople in Spain
Olympic volleyball players of Turkey
Volleyball players at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Eczacıbaşı volleyball players
Gazi University alumni
Mediterranean Games medalists in volleyball
Mediterranean Games gold medalists for Turkey
Mediterranean Games silver medalists for Turkey
Competitors at the 2005 Mediterranean Games
Competitors at the 2009 Mediterranean Games
Competitors at the 2013 Mediterranean Games
20th-century Turkish sportswomen
21st-century Turkish sportswomen