Turkish police seek for Russian swimmer who disappeared throughout Bosphorus race

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The Turkish coast guard and maritime police vessels in Istanbul are trying to find a Russian swimmer who went lacking throughout a cross-Bosphorus race on Sunday, state-run media reported.

The swimmer, named by the Anadolu information company as Nikolai Svechnikov failed to finish the 6.5 kilometre annual race from Istanbul’s Asian shore to the European facet.

According to info obtained by the police, Svechnikov arrived in Istanbul on Sunday and checked right into a resort in Beyoğlu.

In an announcement, the Olympic committee stated it was “deeply saddened by the disappearance of one of our athletes during the race.”

It stated 100 vessels, together with boats from numerous emergency companies, have been monitoring swimmers throughout the race. At the tip, the route was scanned for stray rivals and none have been discovered.

Officials realised a swimmer was lacking by evaluating the lists of members and those that completed, the assertion stated.

More than 2,800 swimmers from 81 international locations took half in Sunday morning’s competitors, the thirty seventh time it has been held, which is taken into account one of many world’s main open-water races.

Swimmers face sturdy currents and uneven waves whereas traversing the waterway, which hyperlinks the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara and divides Turkey’s largest metropolis.

The strait was closed to maritime visitors for the occasion, which is organised by the Turkish National Olympic Committee.

SwimTrek, an organization providing entry to the race, describes race situations as “challenging” on its web site, including that “experience of swimming in all sea conditions is essential.”

Additional sources • AP