Turkish athlete Gizem Girismen has been ranked No 1 archer in the world for Women's Ind. Recurve-W1/W2 since 2007. She confirmed her world-beater status by winning gold at the Para-Archery World Championships in August 2009.
Having suffered a car accident at the age of 11 which left her paralysed, Gizem took up archery at 23, immediately following the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games. Within four years she had reached the summit of her sport and won the gold medal in Beijing. She is the first Turkish female athlete to have won a gold medal at the Paralympic Games.
Within a short period of time by hard working and determination she has become a role model for many disabled people. Because of her success and inspirational role, Gizem was selected as Athlete of the Month in August 2009 by the International Paralympic Committee.
