Ece Demir becomes youngest Turkish swimmer to cross Catalina Channel

Turkish ultra marathon swimmer Ece Demir has become the youngest Turkish athlete to swim across the Catalina Channel in California, USA. The 24-year-old completed the crossing in 16 hours and 43 minutes, reaching the mainland at Sacred Cove.

While the channel is 38 kilometers long by bird's-eye view, currents increased the actual swimming distance to approximately 40 kilometers. To maintain visibility and avoid attracting marine life during the night portions of the swim, Demir utilized red and green lights while being accompanied by a boat and canoe.

This achievement marks a significant step in Demir's pursuit of the Ocean's Seven, a series of the world's most challenging open-water swims. She previously gained recognition as the youngest athlete to complete the 48-kilometer 20 Bridges Swim in New York.