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Saturday, June 6, 2026

From Istanbul to NCAA History: UC San Diego’s Zehra Anbarlilar Builds a Legacy Beyond the Fencing Strip

Turkish National Team standout becomes the first Turkish female foil fencer to compete in NCAA Division I while emerging as a leader, mentor, and advocate for international student-athletes at UC San Diego.


LA JOLLA, Calif. | For many student-athletes, leaving home for college means moving a few hours away. For UC San Diego fencing standout Zehra Anbarlilar, it meant crossing an ocean.

The Istanbul native arrived in Southern California at just 18 years old with no campus visit, no local support system, and no guarantee that life thousands of miles from home would unfold as she had imagined. What she did bring was elite fencing experience, unwavering determination, and a vision of combining world-class academics with high-level athletic competition.

Four years later, Anbarlilar has become one of the most influential figures within Triton Athletics, building a reputation that extends far beyond NCAA competition.

As she enters her senior year, the Turkish National Team member has already etched her name into collegiate fencing history as the first Turkish female foil fencer to compete in NCAA Division I, while simultaneously becoming a mentor, advocate, and leader for international student-athletes navigating the challenges she once faced.

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