Eşref Apak

2.1. Birth and Background

Eşref Apak was born on January 3, 1982, in Kalecik, a district within Ankara, Turkey. He is a Turkish national. Apak stands at 73 in ^{(185 cm)} tall and weighs 254 lb ^{(115 kg)}.

2.2. Education

Apak pursued higher education at Gazi University in Ankara, where he studied physical education and sports.

3.1. Career Beginnings

Eşref Apak began his professional athletic career as a member of Fenerbahçe Athletics in Istanbul. He later transferred to Enkaspor, where he trained under the guidance of coach Artun Talay.

3.2. Olympic Games

Apak competed in five editions of the Olympic Games, representing Turkey in the hammer throw event.

His most notable Olympic appearance was at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. He initially finished in fourth place with a throw of 261 ft ^{(79.51 m)}. Following the disqualification of gold medalist Adrian Annus of Hungary due to doping, Apak's position provisionally improved to second place. However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided not to award him the silver medal, citing his own suspension from the sport for doping offenses that had occurred.

He also participated in subsequent Olympic Games:

• 2008 Beijing Olympics in Beijing, China, where he placed 16th in the qualifying round with 244 ft ^{(74.45 m)}.
• 2012 London Olympics in London, United Kingdom, finishing 17th in the qualifying round with 241 ft ^{(73.47 m)}.
• 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he placed 24th in the qualifying round with 230 ft ^{(70.08 m)}.
• 2021 Tokyo Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, achieving his best Olympic result since 2004 by placing 9th with a throw of 252 ft ^{(76.71 m)}.

3.3. World Championships

Apak made five appearances at the World Athletics Championships:

• 2005 World Championships in Helsinki, Finland, where he finished 17th in the qualifying round with 240 ft ^{(73.04 m)}.
• 2007 World Championships in Osaka, Japan, placing 11th with 251 ft ^{(76.59 m)}.
• 2009 World Championships in Berlin, Germany, finishing 27th in the qualifying round with 232 ft ^{(70.7 m)}.
• 2015 World Championships in Beijing, China, placing 17th in the qualifying round with 240 ft ^{(73.01 m)}.
• 2017 World Championships in London, United Kingdom, finishing 16th in the qualifying round with 241 ft ^{(73.55 m)}.

3.4. Other Major Competitions

Apak achieved success in various other significant international competitions throughout his career:

• World Junior Championships:** He won a gold medal at the 2000 World Junior Championships in Santiago, Chile, with a throw of 230 ft ^{(69.97 m)}, setting a new national junior record.
• Mediterranean Games:** He participated in the 2001 Mediterranean Games in Tunis, Tunisia, placing 6th with 233 ft ^{(71.06 m)}. He later secured a gold medal at the 2005 Mediterranean Games in Almería, Spain, with a throw of 256 ft ^{(77.88 m)}.
• European U23 Championships:** At the 2003 European Athletics U23 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, he earned a silver medal with a throw of 251 ft ^{(76.52 m)}.
• Universiade:** He claimed a silver medal at the 2005 Summer Universiade in İzmir, Turkey, throwing 250 ft ^{(76.18 m)}.
• European Championships:** He competed at the 2006 European Athletics Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden, placing 19th in the qualifying round with 230 ft ^{(70.17 m)}. At the 2016 European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam, Netherlands, he recorded no mark (NM). He finished 17th in the qualifying round at the 2018 European Athletics Championships in Berlin, Germany, with 239 ft ^{(72.7 m)}.
• Islamic Solidarity Games:** Apak won a gold medal at the 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games in Baku, Azerbaijan, with 244 ft ^{(74.32 m)}. He later secured a silver medal at the 2022 Islamic Solidarity Games in Konya, Turkey, with 234 ft ^{(71.34 m)}.
• European Team Championships:** He earned a silver medal at the 2017 European Team Championships in Lille, France, with a throw of 235 ft ^{(71.53 m)}.

3.5. Personal Best

Eşref Apak's personal best performance in the hammer throw is 267 ft ^{(81.45 m)}, achieved in 2005.

3.6. Major Competition Results