Bengisu Avcı is a Turkish ultra marathon swimmer known for her historic achievements in open water swimming. Born in İzmir, Avcı began her swimming career 20 years ago and has specialized in open water courses over the past decade. Between 2011 and 2015, she represented Türkiye in the national team and, alongside her athletic career, took on coaching responsibilities, continuing to pass on her experience by mentoring young swimmers.

Bengisu Avcı (AA)

Early Life and Introduction to Sport

Bengisu Avcı’s swimming journey began in İzmir. While studying at Ege University, she transitioned to open water swimming following the guidance of her coaches. In her early years, she competed in races of 3, 5, 7.5 and 10 kilometers. In 2016, she completed her first ultra marathon swim across the 34-kilometer open water course between Naples and Capri. Although her attempt to cross the English Channel in 2017 was halted due to hypothermia, she successfully completed the crossing in 2018 in 11 hours and 29 minutes, a time that remains the fastest ever recorded by a Turkish woman.

Oceans Seven Achievements

The most significant chapter of Bengisu Avcı’s career began with her goal to complete the “Oceans Seven,” a series of seven major open water crossings. These routes are:

• English Channel (England–France): Completed in 11 hours and 29 minutes in 2018.
• Catalina Channel (USA): In 2022, she became the first Turkish woman to swim across this channel, completing it in 11 hours and 59 minutes.
• Strait of Gibraltar (Spain–Morocco): Crossed in 3 hours and 24 minutes in 2023.
• Cook Strait (New Zealand): Completed in 10 hours and 14 minutes in 2024, becoming the first Turkish person to swim this route.
• Molokai Channel (Hawaii): Completed in 12 hours and 10 minutes in 2024, also earning the title of fastest European woman to cross this channel.
• North Channel (Ireland–Scotland): Crossed in 10 hours and 48 seconds in 2025, adding another major achievement to her record.
• Tsugaru Strait (Japan): Completed in 14 hours of grueling effort. Near the end of the race, just three kilometers from shore, she was caught in a powerful current and suddenly swept 14 kilometers backward. Despite this, she regrouped and finished the marathon after approximately 15 hours.

By completing all seven routes, Bengisu Avcı became the first Turkish person and the 38th swimmer in the world to complete the Oceans Seven.

Bengisu Avcı (AA)

Titles and Records

Bengisu Avcı did not merely complete these routes—she also earned numerous “first” and “fastest” titles:

• First Turkish woman to cross the Catalina Channel.
• Fastest Turkish swimmer to cross the Strait of Gibraltar.
• Fastest Turkish woman to cross both the North Channel and the English Channel.
• First Turkish person and fastest European woman to cross the Molokai Channel.
• First Turkish person to cross both the Cook and Molokai Straits.

She also holds world records and championship titles in the Ice World Championships, held in waters at zero degrees Celsius.

Challenges and Motivation

Avcı has noted that each route presents its own unique challenges, particularly in battling cold temperatures, strong currents, darkness, and isolation. She has also faced external obstacles such as visa restrictions and financial limitations. Her greatest sources of motivation are the people who believe in her and the moments she swims beneath the stars.

Coaching and Future Goals

In addition to her athletic career, Bengisu Avcı coaches young athletes in Türkiye to raise awareness of open water swimming and inspire the next generation. As a coach, she has prepared swimmers for the English Channel crossing. Avcı aims to undertake new challenges on unswum local routes and to mentor emerging long-distance swimmers from Türkiye.

Bengisu Avcı, IISA Uluslararası Buz Yüzme Şampiyonası (2026) (AA)

IISA International Ice Swimming Championship (2026)

At the IISA International Ice Swimming Championship, Bengisu Avcı broke the Turkish record by swimming 1 mile (approximately 1609 meters) in water at 4.5 degrees Celsius. The event was held at Lake Cavazzo in Italy.

Avcı completed the course in 25 minutes and 35 seconds, winning the gold medal and becoming the Turkish record holder in ice swimming. She also came close to the world record of 24 minutes and 35 seconds.

As the first and only Turkish athlete to complete the Oceans Seven course, Avcı participated in the championship to draw attention to glacial melting and climate change.

It was announced that during the championship, in events held under the condition that water temperatures remain below 5 degrees Celsius, Avcı will also compete in the 50-meter breaststroke, 50-meter butterfly, and 500-meter freestyle categories.

Avcı has stated that ice swimming is not only a test of physical endurance but also requires intense mental preparation, and that it produces distinct and unique effects on athletes compared to open water and ocean crossings.

2026 World Winter Swimming Championship

Ultra marathon swimmer Bengisu Avcı broke the world record in the 30–39 age group at the 2026 World Winter Swimming Championship in Finland, completing the 200-meter breaststroke in 3:07.83.

The championship, organized by the International Winter Swimming Association in Oulu, Finland, from 2 to 8 March, attracted over 2,000 athletes from 50 countries. Bengisu Avcı completed the 200-meter breaststroke in 3:07.83, setting a new world record in the 30–39 age group and winning the gold medal.

At the same championship, Avcı earned second place in the world in the 100-meter breaststroke with a time of 1:29.17.

In a statement released by the athlete’s communications office, Avcı emphasized that Türkiye has shown rapid development in ice swimming. She noted that historically, only one or two individual athletes from Türkiye participated in ice swimming events, but for the first time, 11 athletes competed in this championship, and winning a medal was a significant achievement. She highlighted that the Turkish team included athletes as young as 17 and as old as 68, and that it was remarkable how quickly new participants in ice swimming camps had reached the podium at one of the world’s largest competitions. Avcı expressed confidence that Türkiye will continue to rise to higher levels in ice swimming and that Turkish athletes will win more medals in international events^【1】.

Alongside Bengisu Avcı, the female competitors included İrem Damar, Melisa Uluarslan, İrem Ergin, Şükriye Öz, Eda Savcıgil, and Selin Cansu Demircioğlu; the male competitors were Sabri Murat Ersöz, Güçlü Baytekin, and Nevzat Arda.