Historic Achievement by Turkish Swimmer: Türkoğlu Crosses Kaiwi Channel in 21 Hours

Open water swimmer Aysu Türkoğlu has successfully completed the Kaiwi Channel crossing, marking a major milestone in her Oceans Seven journey. With this feat, Türkoğlu became the youngest Turkish swimmer to conquer this challenging route, finishing it in 21 grueling hours.

The Kaiwi Channel, the fifth leg of the Oceans Seven challenge, stretches between the Hawaiian islands of Moloka‘i and O‘ahu. Known for its powerful currents and towering waves, the 42-kilometer route is considered one of the most difficult open water swims in the world.

Due to strong currents, Türkoğlu was pushed off course and had to swim approximately 60 kilometers in total.

In her post-swim remarks, Türkoğlu described the experience as unforgettable and emphasized the lessons she gained during the ordeal.
“There’s another route ahead of me now. I want to once again thank everyone who has supported me through this journey,” she said.

Eyes on the Guinness World Records

Aysu Türkoğlu has an ambitious long-term goal: to complete all seven Oceans Seven crossings within five years and earn a place in the Guinness World Records.

So far, she has successfully crossed the English Channel, North Channel, Cook Strait, and Catalina Channel. With her 2024 Catalina swim, she also became the youngest Turkish swimmer to earn the “Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming” title.

Next on her list are the Strait of Gibraltar and the Tsugaru Strait.