Turkish ultra‑marathon swimmer Bengisu Avcı trains six athletes for Ocean’s 7

Bengisu Avcı, the first Turkish swimmer to complete the seven‑leg Ocean’s 7 ultra‑marathon challenge, is now coaching a team of six athletes for upcoming ocean swims. The group includes Melisa Uluarslan, Nevzat Arda Ağır, Ece Demir, Çiğdem Ezo Topaloğlu, Özgecan Özdemircan and Eda Savcıgil. They will tackle various legs of the circuit: Uluarslan will race the North Channel from 21‑29 July, Ağır will attempt the Catalina Channel on 14 July, Demir will also swim the Catalina Channel on 13 September, Topaloğlu is set for a Manhattan Island loop as part of the Triple Crown, and both Savcıgil and Özdemircan will compete in the Capri‑Napoli Ultra Marathon.

Avcı’s own North Channel record of 10 hours 48 minutes remains the second‑best time of the year after German Olympian Andreas Waschburger. She noted, “Ultra‑marathon swimming is rapidly gaining popularity; I continue competing while also developing new ocean swimmers.” The initiative aims to expand Turkey’s presence in extreme open‑water swimming worldwide.