Gizem Örge: 'We deserved the European championship'

Gizem Örge, the libero of the Turkish Women's National Volleyball Team, made statements on Haber Türk.

Our national libero, who has become a nightmare for opposing attackers with the impossible balls she saves, spoke about the story behind the Nations League and European championship victories, while also making ambitious statements regarding the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Gizem Örge's statements are as follows:

"We really needed this joy and pride for our country. It was a summer where we reaped the rewards of 20 years of correct investment. It was a summer where we used the experience we gained as a stepping stone to reach the top. While 14 of us traveled from continent to continent all summer, despite all the difficulties, the enjoyable part of being in volleyball is representing the country; the pride of representing it in the national jersey is something else entirely."

"YOU CANNOT LEARN TO WIN WITHOUT LOSING"

"We had missed out on the cup, but I don't see it as a failure. In sports, you cannot learn to win without losing. By playing those matches and facing the stress of the final series, you learn to manage those moments, that stress, and to take more calculated risks. My teammates and I gained these experiences. They are all actually a stepping stone."

"The contribution of our federation is undeniable. The effort they have put into volleyball, the investments, the support of sponsors, the right strategies, the right moves. This is entirely a team effort; there is a great deal of hard work involved.

"I AM GRATEFUL TO MY FAMILY"

"I had been away from the national team for a while. My father has truly followed all the national matches more than I have. I am truly very grateful to my mother, my father, and my brother for this. Even when I wasn't playing, they were real supporters. Every family wants what is best for their child, but sometimes the path is not the right one. I am grateful to my family. They have always supported me. They have always backed me."

"This is a serious team effort. How happy I am that I contributed to the team the summer I returned; when I wasn't on the national team, it was portrayed as my own choice, and I was hurt by that."

"WE WERE THE ONES WHO DESERVED IT MOST"

"We were the team that deserved the European Championship the most. We came to the final through very difficult paths. Serbia didn't play very good matches until they reached the final. Our path was difficult. I think we really deserved this success."

"The Olympics are every athlete's dream. We are truly an experienced team now. We believe we have the potential to do much more than what we did this summer. We will go to the Olympics to be on that podium. We will do everything in our power for this. We have tasted the joy of experiencing this pride. I hope we will bring a festive atmosphere to Turkey at the Olympics."

"SANTARELLI MADE US BELIEVE"

"We truly deserved to be number 1 in the world. Our new staff managed this situation very well. First and foremost, our coach believed in it himself. He said, 'This could be a dream summer, I believe in this.' And he was right. He had said, 'I came here to win, I believe in you.' He made us believe that we could do it too."