Ultra-marathon swimmer Tuna Tunca completed the Catalina Channel in 11 hours, 3 minutes, and 20 seconds, marking his fourth successful crossing toward completing the historic Oceans Seven challenge, Swimming World reported. The 23-year-old Turkish athlete has already conquered the English Channel, the Strait of Gibraltar, and the North Channel.
Tunca Completes Catalina Channel Crossing
Tunca’s latest endurance swim across the 20-mile Catalina Channel brings him to four down and three to go in the gruelling global challenge.
When Tunca started his athletic journey, he naturally gravitated toward the open ocean. “I’ve liked swimming in the sea for a long time,” Tunca told Swimming World. The swimmer, who has autism, finds that the open water provides a distinct environment for athletic focus and personal freedom.
Finding Rhythm and Freedom in the Waves
“For Tuna, the sea is much more than a place to swim. It is where he finds freedom, rhythm, and a deep sense of connection,” his mother Gul Nur Tunca told Swimming World. “With every crossing, he continues to explore and redefine his own limits—not by trying to be someone else, but by following his passion and embracing who he is.”
Tunca embraces the physical challenges of rough open water rather than avoiding them. “I feel free, especially when there are waves,” Tunca said. “I really love the waves. [I love] using my arms and pulling the water.” When conditions deteriorate, his focus narrows entirely to his primary objective. “I keep swimming. My goal is to finish. I like achieving difficult things.”
Tunca Trains for Endurance and Recovers with Roller Coasters
The physical demands of the Oceans Seven require intense preparation out of the water. Tunca trains with resistance bands to build and maintain his upper-body strength between open-water events. He identified the severe cold temperatures of the North Channel swim as the most difficult obstacle he has faced on his journey so far.
Outside of rigorous training regimens and ocean crossings, Tunca maintains a straightforward post-swim routine. Asked about his favorite activity after completing a major endurance swim, he pointed directly to a high-speed terrestrial thrill. “Go on roller coasters,” he said.
Manhattan 20 Bridges Swim Target Date
Tunca’s next target in the Oceans Seven circuit is the Manhattan 20 Bridges Swim. The event is a 28.5-mile (24.9 km) circumnavigation of Manhattan Island that passes beneath 20 distinct bridges, including the Brooklyn Bridge, George Washington Bridge, and Queensboro Bridge.
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