# Özlem Kaya (swimmer)

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 1.32 m (4 ft 4 in) tall Para swimmer at 55 kg (121 lb) 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 |
| 2006 World Championships | South Africa, Durban | 50m Butterflye S6 | 11 | 1:09.96 |
| 2006 World Championships | South Africa, Durban | 50m Freestyle S6 | 11 | 47.64 |
| 2006 World Championships | South Africa, Durban | 100m Backstroke S6 | 12 | 2:13.94 |
| 2006 World Championships | South Africa, Durban | 100m Freestyle S6 | 12 | 1:45.62 |
| 2010 World Championships | Netherlands, Eindhoven | 50m Butterflye S6 | 11 | 48.27 |
| 2010 World Championships | Netherlands, Eindhoven | 50m Freestyle S6 | 12 | 40.40 |
| 2010 World Championships | Netherlands, Eindhoven | 100m Breaststroke SB6 | 6 | 1:55.52 |
| 2010 World Championships | Netherlands, Eindhoven | 100m Freestyle S6 | 11 | 1:29.33 |
| 2010 World Championships | Netherlands, Eindhoven | 100m Individual Medley SM6 | 12 | 3:42.38 |
| 2011 European Championships | Germany, Berlin | 50m Freestyle S6 | 7 | 39.12 |
| 2011 European Championships | Germany, Berlin | 100m Breaststroke SB6 | | 1:51.10 |
| 2011 European Championships | Germany, Berlin | 200m Individual Medley SM6 | 8 | 3:39.63 |
| 2012 Paralympic Games | United Kingdom, London | 50 m Butterfly S6 | 8 | 42.91 |
| 2012 Paralympic Games | United Kingdom, London | 50 m Freestyle S6 | 8 | 37.39 |
| 2012 Paralympic Games | United Kingdom, London | 100 m Breaststroke SB6 | 7 | 1:54.60 |
| 2012 Paralympic Games | United Kingdom, London | 100m Freestyle S6 | Heats | 1:29.64 |
| 2012 Paralympic Games | United Kingdom, London | 200 m Individual Medley SM6 | Heats | 3:39.14 |
| 2012 Paralympic Games | United Kingdom, London | 400 m Freestyle S6 | Heats | 6:46.50 |
| 2014 European Championships | Netherlands, Eindhoven | 100m Freestyle S6 | 7 | 1:30.18 |
| 2015 World Championships | United Kingdom, Glasgow | 50m Butterfly S6 | 8 | 41.39 |
| 2015 World Championships | United Kingdom, Glasgow | 50m Freestyle S6 | Heats | 38.07 |
| 2015 World Championships | United Kingdom, Glasgow | 100m Breaststroke SB6 | 8 | 1:56.47 |
| 2016 Paralympic Games | Brazil, Rio de Janeiro | 50 m Butterfly S5 | 6 | 40.60 |
| 2016 Paralympic Games | Brazil, Rio de Janeiro | 50 m Freestyle S5 | 17 | 39.20 |
| 2016 Paralympic Games | Brazil, Rio de Janeiro | 100 m Breaststroke SB6 | Heats | 1:52.15 |
| 2016 European Championships | Portugal, Funchal | 50 m Butterfly S6 | 7 | 40.97 |
| 2016 European Championships | Portugal, Funchal | 50 m Freestyle S6 | 8 | 39.21 |
| 2016 European Championships | Portugal, Funchal | 100 m Breaststroke SB6 | 5 | 1:51.89 |