04.09.2025 19:10
The swimmer Tuna Tunca from İzmir became the first autistic Turkish athlete to cross the Strait of Gibraltar in 5 hours and 32 minutes at the age of 22. Tuna Tunca had previously succeeded in becoming the first autistic Turkish athlete to swim across the English Channel in 13 hours and 26 minutes on June 13.
22-year-old Tuna Tunca, who started swimming at a young age in İzmir, became the first Turkish athlete with autism to cross the Strait of Gibraltar, swimming for 5 hours and 32 minutes.
THE FIRST AUTISTIC TURKISH ATHLETE TO CROSS THE STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR
Ultra marathon swimmer Tuna entered the water at 09:27 from the Punta Marroqui coast of Spain to cross the 16.2-kilometer Gibraltar course between Spain and Morocco. Swimming continuously for 5 hours and 32 minutes, Tuna reached the shore in the Ziri region of Morocco. The athlete was accompanied by Rohan Crouse from England, and Ariadna Moreno and Victor Gregori Barrera from Spain. After reaching the shore, Tuna celebrated with his mother Gülnur Tunca, his coach Mert Onaran, and his teammates. Tuna Tunca succeeded in becoming the first Turkish athlete with autism to cross the Strait of Gibraltar by swimming for long hours.
HE WAS ALSO THE FIRST AUTISTIC TURK TO CROSS THE ENGLISH CHANNEL
Tuna Tunca became the first autistic Turkish athlete to cross the English Channel by swimming the 34-kilometer course between England and France in 13 hours and 26 minutes on June 13.