Yıldız Aras

Yıldız Aras (born November 10, 1977, in Istanbul, Turkey) is a Turkish karateka competing in the kumite +60 kg and open divisions. Aras is member of the Kocaeli Büyükşehir Belediyesi Kağıt Spor Kulübü Karate team. As of May 2009, she is world's best in women's kumite open division.

Aras was admitted to the national team in 1994. She has been nicknamed by foreign sportspeople as the "Strong Girl". Holding three world champion titles, seven European champion titles, and three Mediterranean Games champion titles, she is the most successful Turkish sportsperson ever, but without any Olympic medal, since karate is not an acknowledged discipline at the Olympic Games. 2008 43rd European Championships in Tallinn, Estonia – May 2–4 – kumite +60 kg File:Bronze medal icon.svg, kumite open File:Bronze medal icon.svg 15th World Championships in Munich, Germany – October 12–15 – kumite open File:Gold medal icon.svg 1996 31st European Championships in Paris, France – May 3–5 – kumite open File:Bronze medal icon.svg

Team 2004 39th European Championships in Moscow, Russia – May 7–9 – kumite female team File:Gold medal icon.svg 17th World Championships in Monterrey, Mexico – November 18–21 – kumite female team File:Gold medal icon.svg 2002 16th World Championships in Madrid, Spain – November 21–24 – kumite female team File:Gold medal icon.svg 2001 36th European Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria – May 11–13 – kumite female team File:Gold medal icon.svg 2000 2nd World University Karate Championships in Kyoto, Japan – July 7–9 – kumite female team File:Bronze medal icon.svg 35th European Championships in Istanbul, Turkey – May 5–7 – kumite female team File:Bronze medal icon.svg 1999 34th European Championships in Euboea, Greece – May 21–23 – kumite female team File:Gold medal icon.svg 1998 33rd European Championships in Belgrade, Yugoslavia – May 8–10 – kumite female team File:Bronze medal icon.svg 14th World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – October 18 – kumite female team File:Gold medal icon.svg 1997 32nd European Championships in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain – May 2–4 – kumite female team File:Bronze medal icon.svg

World ranking As of May 9, 2009, she ranks: World: 3rd Kumite female +60 kg (World): 8th Kumite female +68 kg (World): 3rd Kumite female open (World): 1st