August 26, 2025 | 10:15 am
A Russian athlete who disappeared during the 37th annual cross-continental swimming race in the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul, Turkiye, appeared to never leave the water according to tracking chip data, authorities said on Monday as reported by NZ Herald.
Nikolai Svechnikov, 30, started the 6.5-kilometer race between Asia and Europe on Sunday morning local time with over 2,800 participants from 81 countries, officials said.
The Bosphorus Strait - one of the world's busiest shipping lanes - was temporarily closed to traffic, and the swimmers raced from the Kanlica neighborhood on the Asian side to Kurucesme on the European side.
"Russian athlete Nikolai Svechnikov ... went missing during the race," said the Turkish Olympic Committee, which organized the event.
In a statement, the Istanbul governor's office said Svechnikov, a professional swimming coach, "failed to reach the finish line".
"Security camera footage and the chip attached to the swimmer’s foot showed he began the race but did not get out at the finish line," they said.
Still with no trace of him, the Istanbul prosecutor's office has launched an investigation into Svechnikov's disappearance, according to the private news agency DHA.
The Russian Consulate General in Istanbul said it had contacted Turkish authorities regarding the situation and confirmed that Svechnikov's relatives had been informed.
According to the official race website, swimmers had a two-hour time limit to complete the race, and the coast guard would pick up anyone who did not finish within that time.
The Olympic Committee said the race began at 10:04 am with the last swimmer entering the water at 10:54 am.
After the two-hour race limit ended, an initial check found three swimmers missing, but later only one athlete was declared missing, they said.
"This information was immediately shared with the coast guard command, the maritime police department, and the Istanbul governor’s office, and search and rescue operations were ... immediately initiated," they said.
"We are working in full co-operation with the coast guard and police units to shed light on the incident."
As reported by Anadolu, the rescue team focused on the Kanlica-Kurucesme swimming route while also monitoring a wider part of the strait.
The Istanbul Cross-Continental Swimming Race, connecting Asia and Europe across the Istanbul Strait, has become a globally renowned open water competition, attracting both amateur and elite athletes every year.
Editor's Choice: Russia Demands Ukraine to Relinquish Donbas, Opposes NATO
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Russia Demands Ukraine to Relinquish Donbas, Opposes NATO
2 hari lalu
Russian President Vladimir Putin is demanding that Ukraine hand over the entire Donbas region and cancel its plan to join NATO.
Kim Jong Un Sends 10,000 North Korean Troops to Russia, Claims 'World's Strongest Army'
4 hari lalu
Kim Jong Un reaffirms full support for Moscow in the war against Ukraine and even praises North Korean soldiers fighting in Russia.
Russia Insists on Role in Any Talks on Ukraine's Security
4 hari lalu
Russia has reiterated its rejection of any discussions about security guarantees for Ukraine in which Moscow is not involved.
Russian Ambassador Denies Recruiting Ex-Indonesian Navy Officer as Mercenary
5 hari lalu
Russian Ambassador Sergei G. Tolchenov asserts that they have never recruited former Indonesian Navy Marine Satria Arta Kumbara as a mercenary in Russia.
Russian Ambassador Labels NATO in Ukraine as Aggression
5 hari lalu
Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Sergei G. Tolchenov rejects NATO involvement in the security guarantee plan for Ukraine.
Trump Assures No American Troops Will Be Deployed to Ukraine
5 hari lalu
President Trump reaffirms that the United States will not send its troops to Ukraine as part of efforts to halt the war with Russia.
Russian Missiles and Drones Hit Ukraine Overnight as Zelensky Visits White House
5 hari lalu
The Russian missile and drone attack on Kremenchuk coincided with peace talks in the U.S. between Trump and Zelensky.
Zelensky Ready to Meet Putin to End War After Talks with Trump
6 hari lalu
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with U.S. President Donald Trump and several European leaders at the White House on Monday, August 18.
Ukraine Seeks $100bn U.S. Arms Deal for Security Guarantees
6 hari lalu
Ukraine takes this step to secure a guarantee from the U.S. for its security after the potential peace deal with Russia.
Death Toll of Russia Factory Explosion and Fire Climb to 24, Injure Over 150
6 hari lalu
Russia announced on Monday, August 18, 2025, that the death toll from an explosion at an industrial plant in Ryazan region last week has risen to 24.
