By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
September 25 – Ilhan Mansiz, a member of the Turkish side that finished third at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, has claimed that he wants to compete in figure skating at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
The 35-year-old former striker won Buzda Dans, Turkey’s version of “Dancing on Ice”, with partner Olga Beständigová, who had competed for Slovakia at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
She and her partner, brother Jozef Beständig, finished 17th but gave up because of problems over funding.
The pair returned to international competition again in 2004 and 2005, finishing eighth in the European Championships and 15th in the World Championships, before retiring again.
Beständigová (pictured with Mansiz), 31, is now hoping that she and Mansiz, who she is also having a relationship with, can qualify for Sochi 2014.
The couple have moved to remote Obsertdorf in the Alps, where the German team trains, as they work out four hours every day.
Mansiz, who was born in Germany of Crimean origin, scored seven goals in 21 appearances for Turkey, including the winner in the 2002 World Cup quarter-final against Senegal.
“My dream is to compete at the Olympics in 2014,” said Mansiz, who retired from professional football in 2006 after spells in Turkey, Japan and Germany.
“My goal is to compete against myself and see how far I can get.”
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