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An unidentified male swimsuit-clad body recovered from the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul is being assessed as possibly belonging to Russian swimmer Nikolai Svechnikov, who went missing during the annual Bosphorus cross-continental swimming race last summer, according to Turkish authorities.
Maritime Police teams pulled the body ashore after it was spotted in the Bosphorus on Jan. 20, 2026. Officials said the deceased was wearing a swimsuit, a detail that has led investigators to consider a possible link to Svechnikov, the 30-year-old Russian athlete who vanished during the 37th Bosphorus Intercontinental Swimming Race held in August.
The body has not yet been formally identified, and forensic procedures are ongoing to determine whether it is indeed Svechnikov. Authorities have not released further details on the condition of the body or the exact location where it was found.
Svechnikov went missing while taking part in the well-known open-water swimming event that crosses the Bosphorus Strait, the narrow waterway separating the European and Asian sides of Istanbul. The race, organized under the supervision of Turkiye National Olympic Committee (TMOK), attracts thousands of amateur and professional swimmers from around the world each year.
According to information previously shared by organizers and relatives, Svechnikov disappeared mid-race and never reached the finish line. His personal belongings were left unclaimed after the event, prompting concerns and a large-scale search involving the Coast Guard Command, marine police, and municipal underwater rescue teams.
In the days following the disappearance, family members and friends raised concerns about what they described as delays in recognizing that Svechnikov was missing and in launching search operations. They also questioned the safety measures in place during the race, particularly the limitations of electronic timing chips, which only register swimmers at the start and finish points rather than tracking them continuously.
An eyewitness swimmer later told media that he had seen Svechnikov swimming away from the main group and had tried to warn him that he was heading in the wrong direction. The swimmer said Svechnikov appeared calm and purposeful, suggesting he might have reached shore rather than becoming immediately distressed in the water.
Following the incident, Svechnikov’s family announced plans to take legal action against the race organizers, arguing that they failed to ensure adequate safety. Turkish prosecutors in Istanbul opened an investigation, while extensive search efforts continued for weeks, supported by sonar equipment, divers, and aerial surveillance.
The Russian Consulate General in Istanbul has remained in contact with Turkish authorities throughout the process, coordinating diplomatically and monitoring developments.
With the discovery of the body, the investigation has entered a new phase. Turkish officials are now working to establish the identity of the deceased and to clarify whether the remains belong to Svechnikov, whose disappearance had remained unresolved for months.
Authorities have not yet commented on when identification results are expected to be finalized.
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