Ultra marathon swimmer Bengisu Avcı from Izmir, who broke new ground in open sea crossings, completed the 4th most challenging course within the scope of the Oceans 7 (7 Oceans) target. Bengisu Avcı managed to become the first Turk to cross New Zealand’s Cook Strait, which is considered one of the stormiest sea regions in the world. Bengisu, who previously passed the 36-kilometer English Channel stage between England and France on August 3, 2018, with a time of 11 hours and 29 minutes, became the second and still the fastest Turkish woman to achieve this goal at that time. She managed to cross the 34-kilometer Catalina Canal, which connects Turkey, in 12 hours and became the first Turkish woman to cross the Catalina Canal solo.
The athlete from Izmir broke another first by crossing the Strait of Gibraltar, which separates the European continent and Africa between Spain and Morocco, in 3 hours, 24 minutes and 29 seconds in August last year. Also in June last year, Bengisu Avcı, who became the first Turkish female athlete to swim across the Manhattan Island of the USA in 9 hours and win the “Triple Crown” award given by the World Open Water Swimming Federation to those who crossed the English Channel, Catalina and Manhattan courses, came to New Zealand. He broke new ground again. The athlete, who swam alone across the 26-kilometer Cook Strait in New Zealand in 10 hours and 14 minutes, within the rules and without touching the accompanying boat, became the first Turk to achieve this.
HE WAS IN RISK OF HYPOTHERMIA
Bengisu Avcı, who swam across the Cook Strait in New Zealand in 10 hours and 14 minutes in accordance with the rules of the World Open Water Swimming Federation, was in danger of hypothermia in the last part of the swim due to the water temperature of 13 degrees. Despite this, the athlete completed the transition and completed his 4th open water swim within the scope of the Oceans 7 project. The most challenging swimming courses determined by the World Open Water Committee are the English Channel (England – France), Catalina Channel (America), Cook Strait (New Zealand), Strait of Gibraltar (Spain-Morocco), Molokai Channel (Hawaii), Northern Channel (Ireland). -Scotland) and Tsagaru Canal (Japan). Bengisu has Molokai Canal, North Canal and Tsagaru ahead of him to complete his goal.