Zehra Gunes, a prominent player for both VakifBank and Türkiye’s national volleyball team, recently opened up about the intense pressure she and her teammates, Hande Baladin and Ebrar Karakurt, face.
The Turkish volleyball star addressed the toll of social media criticism and shared her aspirations for the future, especially regarding the 2024 Paris Olympics.
‘We’ve dealt with this since we were 17’
Speaking about the relentless scrutiny athletes endure, Gunes acknowledged how social media has added another layer of stress to their careers. “We’ve been dealing with this since we were 17,” Gunes said, referring to the constant criticisms she, Baladin and Karakurt receive.
According to Gunes, succeeding in high-level volleyball requires ignoring external negativity. “You have to leave those things outside. They shouldn’t affect you on the court. When you manage to keep external factors away, you succeed,” she explained.
Despite the public pressure, Gunes has remained unfazed.
“It takes a lot of mental strength, but I don’t feel their pressure. They’ll talk today and forget tomorrow, but I will keep doing my job. I have real goals and dreams, and I won’t let anyone I don’t even know make me feel pressured,” she said.
Turkish volleyball star Gunes’ injury recovery amid Olympic aspirations
Reflecting on her summer, Gunes shared how her primary focus was on recovering from an injury and preparing for the Paris Olympics.
While she knew she wouldn’t be at her peak performance, Gunes explained how she pushed herself to contribute to her team.
“I knew I wouldn’t be at 100%, but I told myself, ‘Zehra, give your 100% energy and potential. At least when you look back, you’ll see you made your teammates smile,’” she said.
Though Türkiye’s team didn’t bring home a medal from the Olympics, Gunes remains optimistic about future success. “I’m very happy because we achieved something great, but I’m sad we didn’t bring back a medal. I’m still young, and I believe we’ll return with a medal in the next Olympics,” she added.
Gunes prepares to lead Turkish volleyball team VakifBank into new season
As she prepares to lead VakifBank into the Sultanlar Ligi season as captain, Gunes reflected on the legacy of past team leaders. She expressed her admiration for former players Melis Gurkaynak and Gozde Kirdar, both of whom played crucial roles in VakifBank’s history.
“They gave so much to VakifBank and deserved everything they achieved. One day, I hope my jersey will be hung there [on the wall, next to theirs] as well; a permanent reminder of how much I contributed to the team,” Gunes stated.
With a determined mindset, Gunes aims to balance her career’s pressures with her ambition to lead her team to further victories.
Her resilience and dedication make her one of the most exciting players to watch, both in Türkiye and on the international stage.
