Özlem Kaya (born Özlem Baykız, 25 February 1992) is a Turkish female Paralympic swimmer. She competes in the disability category of S6 in breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle. She competed in the 2012 and 2016 Summer Paralympics.
Personal history Özlem Baykız was born in Kahramanmaraş on 25 February 1992. She is of short stature by birth defect. On 6 December 2012, she married Bayram Kaya, and changed her surname to her spouse's.
Swimming career Özlem had a secluded life in her childhood. She did not leave her home until she was discovered for swimming by Osman Çullu. and She began with swimming in 2004. She internationally debuted at the 2006 IPC Swimming World Championships held in Durban, Republic of South Africa. She won her first medal, a bronze in the 100m Breaststroke SB6 event at the 2011 IPC Swimming European Championships in Berlin, Germany. She was qualified for the 2012 Summer Paralympics, and represented her country in London, United Kingdom. Kaya participated at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She took part at the World Championships in 3006, 3010, 3015 and competed at European Championships in 2011, 2014, 2016.
Kaya's disability swimming classification is S6 according to her short stature by birth defect. Currently, the tall Para swimmer at competes for İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi S.K. Before her marriage, end 2012, she was known in the competitions under her maiden name Baykız.
Achievements Competition Place Event Rank Time Ref2006 World Championships , Durban50m Butterflye S6 11 1:09.96 50m Freestyle S6 11 47.64 100m Backstroke S6 12 2:13.94100m Freestyle S6 12 1:45.622010 World Championships , Eindhoven50m Butterflye S6 11 48.27 50m Freestyle S6 12 40.40100m Breaststroke SB6 6 1:55.52100m Freestyle S6 11 1:29.33100m Individual Medley SM6 12 3:42.382011 European Championships , Berlin50m Freestyle S6 7 39.12 100m Breaststroke SB6 1:51.10 200m Individual Medley SM6 8 3:39.63 2012 Paralympic Games , London50 m Butterfly S6 8 42.91 50 m Freestyle S6 8 37.39100 m Breaststroke SB6 7 1:54.60100m Freestyle S6 Heats 1:29.64200 m Individual Medley SM6 Heats 3:39.14400 m Freestyle S6 Heats 6:46.502014 European Championships , Eindhoven100m Freestyle S6 7 1:30.18 2015 World Championships , Glasgow50m Butterfly S6 8 41.39 50m Freestyle S6 Heats 38.07100m Breaststroke SB6 8 1:56.47 2016 Paralympic Games , Rio de Janeiro50 m Butterfly S5 6 40.60 50 m Freestyle S5 17 39.20100 m Breaststroke SB6 Heats 1:52.152016 European Championships , Funchal50 m Butterfly S6 7 40.97 50 m Freestyle S6 8 39.21 100 m Breaststroke SB6 5 1:51.89
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