August 30th has long been one of our favourite days in the SwimTrek calendar - it’s when the ‘World’s Oldest Swim’ takes place, bringing the busy Dardanelles strait to a stop amid Turkey’s passionate Victory Day celebrations…
This year was the 38th annual event, hosting the usual mass of eager swimmers from around the world (around 1,400 competitors). Together, they threaded through a 2.8-mile corridor of around 800 support boats and kayaks, from Eceabat to Çanakkale. There was even a wedding proposal on the pontoon at the end!
We were thrilled to see so many happy faces, friends, family, and swimmers of all ages, backgrounds and abilities, leaping in to cross bravely from Europe to Asia. As always, the world’s busiest shipping channel closed for the event and participants relished the opportunity to follow in the historic wakes of the poet Lord Byron and Leander – the latter has been immortalised by classical mythology (supposedly he used to swim to his meet his lover, Hero, on the opposite shore) - who helped to make these waters so famous.
'Trip and experience of a lifetime. Unforgettable.' - Peter C, Ireland (2024 Hellespont swimmer)
The following photos were taken during the event by the very talented Turkish photographers Fikret Ozgur and Alp Ozdemir.
Pre-race Registration
Race Day Morning
Boat Ride To Eceabat
Arrival In Eceabat
Race Start
Crossing The Dardanelles Strait
Race Finish
Award Ceremony
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