Tuna Tunca became the first athlete with autism to swim across the Strait of Gibraltar

Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Sports Club ultra-marathon swimmer Tuna Tunca, 22, became the first autistic marathon swimmer in the world to swim solo across the Strait of Gibraltar .

Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Sports Club ultra-marathon swimmer Tuna Tunca became the first autistic marathon swimmer in the world to swim solo across the Strait of Gibraltar.

Tuna Tunca, the first male swimmer with autism to swim solo across the English Channel in June 2025, has achieved another historic feat. Tunca jumped into the water at 8:27 a.m. on September 4, 2025, from Punta Marroqui, Spain, and completed the 16.2-kilometer course in 5 hours and 32 minutes, reaching Punta Ziri, Morocco, at 1:50 p.m., completing the Strait of Gibraltar solo.

SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE SECOND STAGE OF THE "OCEAN SEVEN" SERIES

Tuna Tunca completed his solo crossing with a group that included Spanish athletes Ariadna Moreno and Victor Gregori Barrera, and British player Rohan Crouse. Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Sports Club Triathlon Coach Mert Onaran, who was on the support boat, provided motivation and nutritional support for Tunca throughout the crossing.

After crossing the English Channel and Gibraltar, Tunca successfully completed the second stage of the "Ocean's Seven," a series of open water swimming's most challenging courses. Thus, Tunca, a member of the Metropolitan Municipality Sports Club, once again etched his name in sports history.