Captain Eda Erdem: Volleyball is a natural and indispensable part of my life

The experienced athlete made sincere statements about her life and volleyball journey, from the first days she started playing volleyball to her 21-year national team career, from the meaning of the national jersey to her, to the future of Turkish volleyball, from her dreams after being an athlete to the messages she gave to young people.

Eda Erdem, who wore the National Team jersey for the first time in 2005, said that despite the 21 years that have passed, she feels the same pride and responsibility every time she wears the crescent and star jersey. Stating that the national team jersey is not just a jersey for an athlete, Erdem stated that it is very valuable for him to represent Turkey, to bring the common feeling of millions of people to the field and to feel that the country is united and stands by the team.

The national volleyball player said that volleyball has taught him to be patient over the years, to struggle, to survive both when winning and losing, and said, "I think the words that best describe me today are hard work, sincerity, struggle and stability." he said.

Eda Erdem, who has managed to perform at a high level in volleyball for many years in addition to the many individual awards she has won throughout her career, stated that the basis of this stability is her love for volleyball. “Volleyball is like oxygen for me; it is a natural and indispensable part of my life.” Erdem stated that he still enjoys going to training, competing, being on the field and learning new things.

Emphasizing that he never sees individual awards as his own achievements, the experienced captain pointed out that volleyball is a team game and said that the most valuable thing is to contribute to the team's success while keeping his own performance at the highest level for years.

Stating that it is very valuable for her to still be able to go on the field with the excitement of the first day after many years spent in the national team, Eda Erdem also drew attention to the unity of the team throughout the European Championship. Expressing that they never stopped believing in each other and sticking together in difficult moments, Erdem stated that he will never forget the moment when he looked at the stands after the final, the intensity of emotion he experienced with his teammates and the moment when they lifted the cup in Turkey, throughout his life.

Eda Erdem, who first wore the national team jersey in 2005 and has successfully worn the star and crescent jersey for 21 years, said that the meaning of the national team jersey for her has never changed over the years. Stating that he feels the same pride and responsibility every time he wears the national team jersey, Erdem stated that it is very valuable for him to represent Türkiye and to be able to carry the common feeling of millions of people to the field.

Stating that reading the National Anthem in the hall after the championships won with the national team jersey is a feeling that is difficult to describe for her, Eda Erdem said, "On the one hand, there is a great pride of success, and on the other hand, there is the peace of being rewarded for our efforts and sacrifices. It is very difficult to describe that moment when we all sing our National Anthem together. I feel the meaning of that success for me, our team and our country much more intensely. No matter how many times I experience it, it is a feeling that I can get used to." not.” With his words, he explained the pride he felt under the national jersey.

Source: TRT Haber Spor RSS (Open Press / Translated Full Text)