# Turkish Ocean’s 7 ultra‑marathon swimming – North Channel > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/turkeys-oceans-7-ultramarathon-swimming > Updated: 2026-07-27T11:47:56.000Z. Sources: 31. Developments: 8. On 24 July 2026 the Turkish Ocean’s 7 team marked a double breakthrough at the North Channel. Autistic ultra‑marathon swimmer Tuna Tunca completed the 36‑km crossing in roughly 16 hours, supported by her mother, coach and crew who remained on the escort boat and assisted during a three‑hour drift. In the same window, 25‑year‑old Melisa Uluarslan became the third Turkish woman to finish the route, touching out in 14 hours 13 minutes. Both athletes now have three of the seven required legs and are poised for the remaining stages, with Tunca targeting the Catalina Channel later in the year. Three days later, former Youth and Sports Minister and İzmir MP Dr Mehmet Kasapoğlu publicly congratulated Tuna Tunca, calling her feat a historic first for an autistic athlete and a source of national pride. Kasapoğlu noted that Tunca has already completed the Strait of Messina and the Strait of Gibraltar, in addition to the North Channel, underscoring her progress toward the full Ocean’s 7 challenge. His phone call and social‑media message highlighted the inclusive‑sport dimension of the achievement. The Turkish squad continues to coordinate attempts on the remaining legs, emphasizing both elite performance and the promotion of disability‑inclusive sport as it advances toward completing the full Ocean’s 7 challenge this season. ## Timeline ### 2026-07-27: Turkish MP Mehmet Kasapoğlu congratulates autistic swimmer Tuna Tunca Turkish MP Mehmet Kasapoğlu hailed autistic swimmer Tuna Tunca’s 16‑hour completion of the Ocean’s 7 swims, including the North Channel, as a historic first. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkish-mp-mehmet-kasapolu-congratulates-autistic-swimmer-tuna-tunca ### 2026-07-24: Turkish swimmers Tunca and Uluarslan complete North Channel crossing Turkish swimmers Tuna Tunca (≈16 h) and Melisa Uluarslan (≈14 h 13 m) completed the North Channel, a key Ocean’s Seven leg, marking historic feats for Turkey. 16 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/melisa-uluarslan-becomes-third-turkish-woman-to-complete-north-channel-swim ### 2026-07-06: Turkish swimmer Tuna Tunca readies for North Channel leg of Ocean's Seven Autistic İzmir swimmer Tuna Tunca prepares for a 36‑km North Channel swim (21‑28 July) as part of the Ocean's Seven challenge, backed by municipal support and a rigorous training regime. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkish-swimmer-tuna-tunca-readies-for-north-channel-leg-of-oceans-seven ### 2026-07-04: Turkish swimmer Aysu Türkoğlu completes 45‑km Tsugaru Channel crossing in 13.8 hours Turkish ultramarathon swimmer Aysu Türkoğlu completed the 45 km Tsugaru Channel in Japan in 13 h 50 m, becoming the second and youngest Turkish to finish this Ocean's Seven leg. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkish-swimmer-aysu-trkolu-completes-45km-tsugaru-channel-crossing-in-138-hours ### 2026-07-03: Turkish swimmer Aysu Türkoğlu to tackle Japan's Tsugaru Canal in Ocean’s Seven Turkish ultramarathon swimmer Aysu Türkoğlu will attempt the Tsugaru Canal crossing in Japan, the sixth leg of the Ocean’s Seven, aiming to become the youngest Turk to complete six of the seven toughest open‑水 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkish-swimmer-aysu-trkolu-to-tackle-japans-tsugaru-canal-in-oceans-seven ### 2026-06-29: Turkish swimmer Tuna Tunca prepares for North Channel crossing with Belfast cold‑water camp Autistic Turkish ultra‑marathon swimmer Tuna Tunca received a send‑off in İzmir and will train in Belfast from July 7 to prepare for his North Channel crossing, part of the Ocean’s Seven series. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkish-swimmer-tuna-tunca-prepares-for-north-channel-crossing-with-belfast-coldwater-camp ### 2026-06-13: Turkish ultra‑marathon swimmer Bengisu Avcı trains six athletes for Ocean’s 7 Turkish pioneer Bengisu Avcı trains six swimmers for Ocean’s 7 legs, including North Channel, Catalina, Manhattan and Capri‑Napoli events, as ultra‑marathon swimming gains popularity. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkish-ultramarathon-swimmer-bengisu-avc-trains-six-athletes-for-oceans-7 ### 2026-06-12: Turkish ultra‑marathon swimmer Tuna Tunca set for North Channel crossing Turkish autistic swimmer Tuna Tunca will attempt the 35‑km North Channel crossing (July 21‑28) as part of Ocean’s 7, after cold‑water training in Belfast and Turkey. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkish-ultramarathon-swimmer-tuna-tunca-set-for-north-channel-crossing --- Cite as: Turkish Ocean’s 7 ultra‑marathon swimming – North Channel. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/turkeys-oceans-7-ultramarathon-swimming