ISTANBUL (Reuters) -Russian Nikolay Svechnikov went missing during the Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swimming Race in Istanbul on Sunday, Turkish authorities said on Monday.
The Turkish National Olympic Committee said search and rescue operations were launched shortly after race officials reported that Svechnikov was not accounted for, after the other athletes had emerged from the waterway dividing Europe and Asia.
More than 2,800 swimmers from 81 countries took part in the 37th annual race. They swam about 6.5 kilometers along the Bosphorus Strait, crossing from Asia to Europe through the centre of Istanbul.
The Coast Guard, police, the fire department and other units monitored swimmers along the course.
“Despite the race being held under the highest safety standards… the disappearance of one of our athletes has deeply saddened us. We are working in full cooperation with the Coast Guard and Security units to clarify the incident,” the Olympic Committee said.
The Istanbul prosecutor’s office is investigating the incident, state-held Anadolu news agency reported.
(Reporting by Ezgi Erkoyun and Murad Sezer; Editing by Jonathan Spicer and Ed Osmond)
