Mustafa Sevenay And Hilal Zeyneb Saraç Win Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swim

Courtesy of Pelin Çelik, Bosphorus, Turkey.

The Turkish Olympic Committee’s 32nd Samsung Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swimming Race is one of the World’s Top 100 Open Water Swims. The 6.5 km crossing of the Bosphorus Strait between Asia and Turkey starts in Kanlıca on the Asian side of Istanbul and finishes at Kuruçeşme Cemil Topuzlu Park on the European side.

Hilal Zeynep Saraç finished in 47 minutes 52 seconds to defend her title and top the 395 female finishers in the race. Mustafa Sevenay (46 minutes 1 second to top the 1,335 male finishers), both from Turkey won their respective divisions in the annual race that featured 1,765 total swimmers from 34 countries. Each finisher is awarded the title of a Cross-Continental Swimmer.

This year’s race took place without spectators due to the strict COVID-19 measures in place. From start to finish, every stage of the race respected social distancing rules and other public health measures aimed at protecting the health and well being of all those taking part in the event.

Top 10 Male Results:
1. Mustafa Sevenay 46:01
2. Atahan Kireşçi 46:20
3. Atakan Malgil 47:31
4. Ali Ozan Çaliskan 47:38
5. Viacheslav Semhaikin 47:39
6. Bora Tokcan 47:44
7. Volodymyr Pryshchepa 47:45
8. Efe Erduran 47:48
9. Demir Özçelik 47:52
10. Tugrul Uysal 48:00

Top 10 Female Results:
1. Hilal Zeyneb Saraç 47:52
2. Ilgin Çelik 48:12
3. Sudenas Çakmak 48:46
4. Buse Topcu 49:10
5. Beste Özkan 49:36
6. Derin Yerlikaya 50:37
7. İpek Burcu Aydiner 50:41
8. Azra Asku 50:51
9. İpek Yalki 51:52
10. İlayda Keloglu 51:56

The oldest swimmers to complete were 82-year-old Sami Gemicioglu from Turkey, born in 1938, who finished 19th in the men’s 70+ age group in 1:26:08 and 73-year-old Rabia Sevil Gemigioglu also from Turkey, born in 1947, who won the women’s 70+ age group in 1:39:49.

For more information and results, visit here.

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