Searches for the Russian swimmer who disappeared during the transition through the Bosphorus have begun

• The search for the swimmer began on September 24, 2025.
• In the competition, over 2800 swimmers from 81 countries participated.
• Turkey has closed the protocol for maritime traffic during the transition.

Coast guards and maritime police in Istanbul are conducting searches for the Russian swimmer who disappeared during the transition through the Bosphorus on September 24, 2025. According to the state information agency Anadolu, the swimmer, named Mykola Svyetchnikov, failed to complete the 6.5-kilometer distance from the Asian shore of Istanbul to the European one.

In the competition, considered one of the world's premier open water events, over 2800 swimmers from 81 countries participated. The competition took place under conditions of strong currents and waves, which made their progress quite challenging. The protocol was closed for maritime traffic during the event, which was organized by the Turkish National Olympic Committee.

The company SwimTrek, which organized participation in the competition, stated that the conditions for the transition are "extreme" and emphasized the importance of swimming experience in all marine conditions. The Olympic Committee expressed condolences in connection with the disappearance of one of the participants in the competition. It is noted that 100 vessels, including vessels from various emergency services, monitored the swimmers during the competition. At the end of the route, a review is conducted to identify those who remained in the water, but no one has been found so far.

Tags: Middle East/Sport