Bestandigova/Mansiz teamed up in 2007 for a TV show and then started training seriously in 2010. Bestandigova competed in pair skating at the World and Olympic level with her former partners. Mansiz was a professional soccer player and won the World bronze medal with the Turkish National Team in 2002, scoring three important goals including a golden goal in the quarter-final. He also played in the Turkish and German premier leagues as well as in Japan. Mansiz ended his soccer career because of injuries in 2006. He attempted a comeback in 2009 before turning again to figure skating with Bestandigova. Mansiz also appeared in Turkish TV series and has a daughter, Aimee, born in 2003.