Bosphorus swim named world's best open water race

By Ilknur Yurdakul

ANKARA (AA) - The annual race from Istanbul’s Asian to European shore has been named the world’s best open water swimming race.

The event, held every July, sees hundreds of swimmers cross the Bosphorus in the only inter-continental swimming contest.

The World Open Water Swimming Association named the 6.5 kilometer (4 mile) course as the best in the world, according to the Turkish National Olympic Committee, which has organized the race since 1989.

A list of the top 100 open water races was drawn up by the association’s members after evaluating more than 3,000 races.

The award follows the Istanbul race being named “offering of the year” in 2016.

The 29th Samsung Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swim was held on Sunday, when 2,277 swimmers from 49 countries crossed the straits.

During the race, the Bosphorus is closed to shipping as swimmers cross from Kanlica pier on the Asian side to Kurucesme Cemil Topuzlu Park in Europe.