Turkish athlete Bengisu Avcı breaks records in Turkish sports by achieving the renowned Ocean's 7 feat.
Headline: Bengisu Avcı Becomes First Turkish Athlete to Complete Ocean's Seven Challenge
Bengisu Avcı, affectionately known as "Okyanus Kızı" or "Daughter of the Ocean", made history on August 4, 2025, by successfully completing the Ocean's Seven challenge. This gruelling series of seven channel swims across some of the world's most challenging waters was a seven-year journey for Avcı, beginning with the English Channel in 2018.
The final leg of her journey was the Tsugaru Channel in Japan, notorious for its violent currents and shifting tides. Avcı started her swim at 10:30 p.m. from Honshu Island, navigating strategically with the currents. Despite being swept nearly 14 km off course, she persevered, overtaking two other swimmers who had to abandon their efforts that day. She finished just minutes before nightfall, narrowly beating the strict cutoff time.
Avcı's swims were more than just athletic feats; they were platforms for climate advocacy. Under the motto "Why should the future be a risk?", she championed awareness about climate change and ocean sustainability. Each crossing was a metaphor for the urgent environmental battles humanity faces.
Notable swims in Avcı's Ocean's Seven journey include the 42 km North Channel between Ireland and Great Britain, which she completed in 10 hours and 48 seconds, setting a national record for Turkey.
Throughout her journey, Avcı partnered with AXA Türkiye for her climate advocacy efforts. Dr. Seren Akıcı and Aslı Vural, a sports psychologist and physiotherapist respectively, provided support during the final sprint.
With the Tsugaru Channel complete, Avcı joins the elite few who have mastered all seven swims of the Ocean's Seven. Her achievement not only cements her place in the annals of Turkish sports history but also serves as a call to action for climate change and ocean sustainability.
Bengisu Avcı's feat extends beyond sports, as she uses her platform to advocate for the environment. Her call to action urges the world to take climate change and ocean sustainability seriously. Meanwhile, her record-breaking time in the North Channel demonstrated her exceptional skills not just in sports, but also in football analysis, given her strategic navigation skills. The world of sports and the environment are intertwined in Avcı's journey.
