Bosphorus Swim Race Boosts Safety After Swimmer's Death

The 38th Bosphorus Intercontinental Swimming Race, organized by the Turkish National Olympic Committee (TMOK), will proceed with enhanced safety measures this year. The event, held in coordination with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Governorship of Istanbul, Turkish Swimming Federation, and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, follows a tragic incident last year.

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We have started our preparations today for the 38th Bosphorus Intercontinental Swimming Race organized by the Turkish National Olympic Committee.

During the previous race, which started in Kanlıca and ended in Kuruçeşme, Russian swimmer Nikolai Svechnikov disappeared. Despite extensive search efforts in the Bosphorus by rescue teams, his body was eventually found on January 20, 2026, off the coast of Beşiktaş Kuruçeşme, five months after he went missing. The body was reportedly recovered with its integrity compromised and was sent to the Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institute for an autopsy.

This year's race will see a significant increase in safety precautions. In addition to the 2026 incident, previous years have seen a swimmer's leg severely injured by a Zodiac boat propeller and another swimmer die of a heart attack during the race. To mitigate risks, organizers are distributing "swim buoys" to all participants. Over 100 surface security elements, boats, referee boats, and guide boats will patrol the course.

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This race has been selected as the world's best open water swimming race.

Security forces, including the Coast Guard, Coastal Safety, and Maritime Police, will be on duty. Medical teams with sea and land ambulances will be on standby for any emergencies. "We have started our preparations today for the 38th Bosphorus Intercontinental Swimming Race organized by the Turkish National Olympic Committee," said Şenol Güneş, head of the race's organizing committee. "This race has been selected as the world's best open water swimming race. Around 2,500 athletes from 64 countries will swim this Sunday, starting at 10:00 AM on August 23. This is the only thematic organization in the world where you swim between two continents, starting from Asia and swimming to Europe."

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Around 2,500 athletes from 64 countries will swim this Sunday, starting at 10:00 AM on August 23.

Güneş further elaborated on the new measures: "We have many differences this year. Regarding the precautions, they will swim a distance of 6.5 kilometers. We are providing every swimmer with a 'swim buoy' from the organization. All our swimmers participate in this organization with a license. Our surface security measures include over 100 boats. It will be carried out with the organization of major institutions like the Coast Guard, Coastal Safety, and Maritime Police. There are boats on the course for the swimmers, and our referee boats will mark the milestones. What I call guide boats..."

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This is the only thematic organization in the world where you swim between two continents, starting from Asia and swimming to Europe.