04.09.2025 14:59
Autistic ultra-marathon swimmer Tuna Tunca aims to swim across the Strait of Gibraltar, which separates Europe and Africa, after successfully crossing the English Channel. If he completes this crossing, he will become the first autistic swimmer in the world to swim across the Strait of Gibraltar.
The autistic ultra marathon swimmer and İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Sports Club athlete Tuna Tunca (22), who made history by crossing the English Channel solo, has now started swimming from the Spanish city of Tarifa to the shores of Morocco with his group of three to cross the Strait of Gibraltar, which separates Europe and Africa. Tunca, who will swim for 4 to 6 hours, will become the first autistic swimmer in the world to cross the Strait of Gibraltar if he completes this crossing.
Autistic ultra marathon swimmer Tuna Tunca received swimming training with the support of his mother, Gülnur Tunca, after jumping into the pool without floaties at the age of 3.5 and loving the water. After the training, Tunca began working with coach Mert Onaran at the age of 11 and achieved various rankings in competitions. On June 23, 2024, Tunca swam the 36-kilometer distance from Capri Island in Italy to the city of Naples with his coach Mert Onaran. Previously, Tunca swam across the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles, and he became the first autistic individual to swim from Chios Island in Greece to Çeşme in an open water crossing. Most recently, in June, Tunca completed the English Channel crossing in 13 hours and 26 minutes, becoming the first autistic male swimmer in the world to complete this course. This achievement was regarded as a demonstration of not only physical but also mental endurance.
STARTED SWIMMING
Tunca is now aiming to swim across the Strait of Gibraltar, which separates Europe and Africa. Starting to swim towards the shores of Morocco with his group of three from the Spanish city of Tarifa at 08:27 in the morning, Tunca will become the first autistic swimmer in the world to cross the Strait of Gibraltar if he completes this crossing. Tunca will swim for 4 to 6 hours. With the English Channel crossing, Tunca completed the first of the courses known as the 'Oceans Seven' in the open water swimming world, and he has now started swimming to complete the second course in this series across Gibraltar.