Nikolai Svechnikov (†)

Russian swimmer found dead in Bosporus

Five months after a swimming competition across the Bosporus in Istanbul, a missing Russian swimmer has been found dead.

22 January 2026

From: dpa/sn

A body was found in the Turkish strait two days ago; it was identified as swimmer Nikolai Svechnikov, the state news agency Anadolu reported. Authorities reached this conclusion after a DNA comparison with his parents.

In August, the then 29-year-old Svechnikov had participated in the annual Bosphorus Cross Continental Swim competition but never finished. For days, the coast guard, along with friends and relatives, searched the shoreline for the missing man.

A sad end to a months-long search.

In this competition, participants swim from Asia to Europe; the race is 6,5 kilometers long. The Bosporus will be closed to shipping traffic during this time.

The competition is considered challenging – in the strait that connects the Black Sea with the Sea of ​​Marmara, swimmers must expect strong currents and waves.