The open-water swimming races in Ölüdeniz have concluded: Mark Shrom and Gülşah Günenç Eler took first place in the 6-kilometer race
The competitions, held in four categories as part of the 7th International Fethiye Sports Festival, concluded with the participation of 1,612 athletes, and awards were presented to the winners.
This article was translated automatically from Turkish. Türkçe orijinal ›
Open-water swimming races have begun as part of the 7th International Fethiye Sports Festival held in the Fethiye district of Muğla. Organized by the Fethiye Directorate of Youth and Sports in Ölüdeniz, the races feature 1,612 athletes competing in four categories.
The athletes took to the water to compete for top finishes at various distances. Throughout the races, the Ölüdeniz shoreline drew significant attention from both the participants’ families and vacationers in the area.
1,000-meter winner: “The course and the water are beautiful”
Yağız Bekçi, the winner of the men’s 1,000-meter category, expressed his admiration for the course and the water, stating, “The course and the water are wonderful. I participated last year as well, and I really like it here.”
The races were held in various age and distance categories. Safety and medical teams were also on duty on the beach as part of the event.
The event, which began with 180 athletes, grew to 1,600
Harun Reşit Yiğit, Director of Youth and Sports in Fethiye, told reporters that they were delighted to be organizing the seventh edition of the festival. Noting that the event started with 180 athletes and has now grown to approximately 1,600, Yiğit emphasized that this growth made them extremely happy.
Yiğit said, “The course from Kelebekler Valley to Kumburnu was selected by the World Swimming Federation as one of the three most beautiful courses in the world. We are very proud of this.”
You can find out about other sports developments in Fethiye on our Sports page.
The Butterfly Valley course is attracting tourists to Fethiye
The open-water races held along the Ölüdeniz and Butterfly Valley route have become one of the most important events on Fethiye’s sports tourism calendar in recent years. In addition to athletes from various provinces across the country, foreign participants are also signing up for the races. It is reported that during the event, occupancy rates at local lodging facilities rise, and cafes and restaurants see increased activity.
As part of the Fethiye Sports Festival, events are held in various sports disciplines in addition to open-water swimming. Throughout the festival program, viewing areas were set up along the waterfront for spectators, and maritime traffic was kept under control during race times.
The race results and the awards ceremony will be announced according to the festival schedule.
The races are over, and the winners have been determined
The races, organized by the Fethiye District Directorate of Youth and Sports in Ölüdeniz, concluded with a total of 1,612 athletes participating across four categories. Athletes competed on 1-, 2-, 3-, and 6-kilometer courses. On the festival’s final day, the 6-kilometer race—which began at the Butterfly Valley beach—was started by Fethiye District Governor Fatih Akkaya, Fethiye Mayor Alim Karaca, District Director of Youth and Sports Harun Reşit Yiğit, and other dignitaries.
Category Winners
In the 6-kilometer race, Mark Shrom won first place in the men’s division and Gülşah Günenç Eler in the women’s division. In the 3-kilometer race, Mark Shrom again took first place in the men’s division, while Nehir Sümer won the women’s division. In the 2-kilometer race, Yağız Bekçi finished first in the men’s division and Nehir Sümer in the women’s division. In the 1-kilometer race, Yağız Bekçi won first place in the men’s division, and Ece Samatlı won first place in the women’s division. Following the races, awards were presented to the athletes who placed in their respective categories.
