Hi, I’m Arda.
I’m 16 years old and live in New York. I’ve been swimming since I was 6. Last year, I swam across the Bosphorus and earned the title of an intercontinental swimmer. Since then, my passion for open water swimming has only grown.
On Sunday, July 27, I’ll be attempting to complete a challenging 50-kilometer swim around Manhattan Island. If I succeed, I will become the youngest Turkish swimmer to complete this course. According to the organizers, I will also be the 16th person under the age of 16 in the world to finish it—earning a rare athlete distinction.
I feel ready. I’ve trained 6 days a week, swimming 4 to 6 hours a day. I want to thank my coach Dan Daly for his support and also Bengisu Avci for her long-distance mentorship during this journey.
My next big goal is to swim across the English Channel in 2026 as part of a relay team from England to France.
Swimming isn’t just a sport I love—it’s also a way for me to create social impact. I’ll be swimming the 20 Bridges of Manhattan to support Swim Across America in the fight against cancer. Next year, I plan to dedicate my English Channel swim to support Alexa Trust, a charity for newborns.
Your support means a lot to me.
Thank you to everyone who has sent kind wishes and encouragement.
See you at the finish line! 🏁