2800 participants from 81 countries participated in the 6.5 -kilometer swimming competition between two continents. Because the Bosphorus, one of the busiest shipping routes in the world, was temporarily closed to traffic, the race in the neighborhood on the Asian side started and ended in Kurucesme on the European side.
According to the official website of the race, swimmers had two hours to complete the course, after which the Turkish coast guard picked everyone who had not arrived in time. Svetsjnikov did not reach the finish and nobody knows what happened to him.
Images of the swimming competition © ANP/HH
The Russian consulate general in Istanbul said it was in contact with the Turkish authorities about the situation and confirmed that the family members of the swimmer had been informed.