In a powerful tribute to environmental awareness and human resilience, Türkiye’s national open water swimmer Bengisu Avcı is taking on one of the world’s most treacherous swimming challenges: Japan’s Tsugaru Strait. Under the slogan “Why should the future be a risk”, Avcı has plunged into the frigid waters from the shores of Kodomari with one mission — to not only conquer nature’s obstacles, but also to amplify the call for climate action.
As of the early morning hours, Avcı had reached the halfway point of the 30-kilometer crossing, fighting fierce tides and unpredictable currents. Her swim is not just a test of physical strength, but also an emotional and symbolic statement — a demonstration of humanity’s willpower in the face of planetary challenges.
Facing Tsugaru’s Wrath
Unlike other iconic swims, Tsugaru Strait is notorious for its strong crosscurrents, which often reach up to 12 km/h and can stretch unpredictably across the route. These currents revealed themselves in full force almost immediately after Avcı entered the water. Rather than heading directly toward Hokkaido, her final destination, she strategically angled her swim to the left, taking the current on her side in a calculated move to reach the center of the channel.
This central zone, known for its chaotic wave patterns and shifting water temperatures, resembled a mountainous landscape of liquid force. Here, Bengisu pressed forward like a mountaineer scaling peaks made of waves. At around 7:00 a.m., she reached the heart of the channel — a milestone in her journey but also the beginning of its most demanding stretch.
Now, she must swim for at least three more hours merely to maintain her trajectory. The fight isn’t about gaining distance — it’s about resisting being dragged away by Tsugaru’s intense undertow before she can finally veer toward Hokkaido.
Ocean’s Seven: A Legacy in Motion
If successful, this swim will mark Bengisu Avcı’s sixth completed leg of the Ocean’s Seven, an elite open-water swimming challenge often compared to the mountaineering feat of climbing the Seven Summits. The Ocean’s Seven includes the English Channel, North Channel, Strait of Gibraltar, Catalina Channel, Molokai Channel, Cook Strait, and the Tsugaru Strait.
Bengisu has already conquered the English Channel (Manş Denizi), Catalina, Gibraltar (Cebelitarık), Cook Strait, Molokai, and the brutally cold North Channel. Tsugaru is her final boss — the unpredictable wildcard of the seven. If she conquers this challenge, she will become the first Turkish swimmer to join the Ocean’s Seven honor roll, placing Türkiye firmly on the global map of endurance swimming.
The Message Beneath the Waves
What sets this mission apart is not just the athletic achievement, but the powerful environmental message it carries. Avcı’s motto, “Why should the future be a risk”, is a sharp reminder that climate change isn’t just a scientific concept — it’s a present, lived reality.
Open water swimmers like Bengisu are among the first athletes to directly experience the subtle and sometimes drastic changes in marine environments. From shifts in water temperature and salinity to plastic pollution and ecosystem disruption, the ocean is changing. Avcı’s swim through Tsugaru is as much about monitoring these shifts as it is about breaking records.
By choosing to dedicate this swim to climate awareness, she aligns herself with a growing movement of athletes using their platforms to advocate for a more sustainable and resilient future.
Behind the Athlete: Bengisu Avcı’s Trail of Firsts
Bengisu Avcı isn’t new to adversity. Since beginning her journey in open water swimming in 2018, she has faced physical exhaustion, mental strain, jellyfish stings, hypothermia, and grueling training routines — and yet, she has persisted.
Her name is already etched in Türkiye’s sporting history as the first Turkish woman to swim across multiple globally recognized channels. Each achievement has been more than a personal milestone; it’s a moment of national pride and inspiration for young Turkish athletes, especially women, seeking role models in extreme sports.
Her efforts are often supported not only by a skilled crew of navigators, coaches, and medics, but also by a wave of public enthusiasm. Social media users across Türkiye are following her real-time updates, sending encouragement, and expressing collective hope that she finishes strong.
Strategic Swimming and Mental Mastery
Swimming in open water is not like swimming in a pool. The conditions change by the minute — waves crash unexpectedly, currents shift without warning, and the mental toll can be staggering. What makes Avcı’s performance so extraordinary is her ability to adapt.
In Tsugaru, this has meant making split-second decisions about direction and tempo, adjusting to the cold, resisting the powerful lateral pulls, and staying mentally resilient. In these waters, GPS and support boats are crucial, but ultimately, it is her mind and body that must endure.
These are the moments where Avcı’s true character shines. Her determination, rooted in years of discipline, becomes a guiding force — a beacon not just for herself, but for all those watching from Türkiye and beyond.
Ripples That Reach Further
As the world tunes in to Bengisu Avcı’s Tsugaru crossing, it’s clear that this moment will transcend the sports pages. This is a cultural and environmental event, a moment when Türkiye’s name is carried on waves toward a brighter, more sustainable future.
It’s also a reminder of what’s possible when ambition is combined with purpose. From the icy waters of the North Channel to the swirling chaos of Tsugaru, Bengisu Avcı is charting a new path for Türkiye — one of strength, resilience, and global impact.
Her legacy is still being written, stroke by stroke, across some of the world’s wildest waters. And if she reaches the shores of Hokkaido, it won’t just be a finish line — it will be a beginning for so many others inspired by her courage and conviction.
