Bosphorus Swim, officially named Samsung Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swimming Race, is an annual event held on Sunday in late July or August. The race has been organized since 1989 by the Turkish Olympic Committee in Istanbul. Over years, the water race has become a true international brand, drawing in more than 4,000 of applicants, wishing to compete in this renowned race. In 2016, the World Open Water Swimming Association declared Bosphorus Swim to be the World Open Water Swimming Offering of the Year.
Swimming Race Program
Over two thousand swimmers from up to 50 countries start the competition at Kanlica Pier on the Anatolian Side, also called the Asian Side, in Istanbul. Twelve age groups, starting from 14 and up to 70 years old, can participate in the race, each in their own division. Their goal is to cross six and a half kilometers as quickly as possible and land at Kurucesme Cemil Topuzlu Park on the European shore.
The winners cover this distance in less than an hour—the record is around 50 minutes. Imagine the adrenaline one feels while swimming ahead of fellow competitors and how sweet are the final swallowed splashes of cold Bosphorus.
Registration & Cost
Owing to the great popularity, the registration for the next swim is normally open around January. If you want to take part, it's recommended not to linger with the registration because thousands of swimmers apply to the race as soon as they can. Registration fee is 1,500 Turkish lira.
Schedule
The swimmers will gather at the Kurucesme Cemil Topuzlu Park for transfer to the Kanlica Pier. The meeting area for swimmers at the park will open at 7 am, while the changing stations start operating at 7:30 am. From 7:30 and up until 8:50 am, the participants will be boarding the transfer ships, which depart from Kurucesme Cemil Topuzlu Park at 8:50 am. The race itself begins at 10 am from Kanlica Pier. On the day of the competition, the Bosphorus Strait is closed to vehicles. The race will conclude two hours after the last swimmer enters the waters.
Location
Both the Kanlica Pier and Kurucesme Cemil Topuzlu Park are located in Istanbul, the gorgeous capital city of Turkey. The Kanlica Pier is situated in Kanlıca neighborhood, full of magnificent historic mansions. On the other hand, Cemil Topuzlu Park is located in Kuruçeşme, a neighborhood on the European side of Istanbul. The park is approximately 25 miles (41 km) southeast of the Istanbul Airport.
