At just 16 years old, Nevzat Arda Agir—then a rising junior at Locust Valley High School—became one of the youngest international swimmers ever to complete the grueling 28.5‑mile (46 km) 20 Bridges Swim around Manhattan Island on July 27, 2025, finishing in an impressive 8 hours and 23 minutes. Known for its powerful currents, choppy waves, and heavy boat traffic, the event is among the toughest in open‑water swimming. But Agir wasn’t just racing for personal glory—he was swimming to raise funds for cancer research through Swim Across America, a cause that hits close to home as his grandfather is a cancer survivor
