Born on May 2, 2001, in Bodrum, Muğla, Aysu Türkoğlu embarked on a journey that would take her from the sparkling shores of Turkey to the historic waters of the English Channel. Inspired by her sister, Türkoğlu plunged into the world of swimming at just seven years old and never looked back.
Her swimming career started with joining the Bodrum Sports Swimming Club. Displaying an innate talent for the water, Türkoğlu transitioned to open water swimming at the age of 14, challenging herself with distances ranging from 5 to 10 kilometers.
In her first international outing at the Aquamasters swimming competition, she triumphed in the 6-kilometer race in the women's category. But this was just a glimpse of what she would achieve next.
On the night bridging July 29 and 30, 2022, Aysu achieved a feat that would etch her name into the annals of swimming history. She swam across the 60-kilometer English Channel in 16 hours, 28 minutes, becoming the youngest Turkish athlete to do so. Her performance resonated not only in Turkey but across the swimming world.
Emboldened by her success in the English Channel, Aysu set her eyes on the approximately 40-kilometer-long North Channel. On a day when the local time read 05:45 in Bangor, Northern Ireland, she embarked on her grueling swim.
Accompanied by dolphins at certain stages of her 11-hour, 48-minute, and 19-second swim, Aysu became the first Turkish woman and the youngest Turkish athlete to cross the North Channel. Her triumphant moment, wrapped in the Turkish flag, was shared live with her social media followers, echoing pride and inspiration.
Türkoğlu's ambition doesn't stop at these victories. She has her eyes set on the '7 Oceans' channels, aiming to complete them within five years and break the Guinness World Record.
Now a third-year student at the Faculty of Sports Sciences at Ege University, Aysu continues to shine in her academic pursuits as well. Her love for open water swimming, ignited at the tender age of 14, has driven her to heights few could dream of.
Aysu Türkoğlu's story is one of passion, determination, and unrelenting effort. Her accomplishments serve as a beacon for young athletes and women, proving that with dedication and courage, any goal can be achieved.
With the waves she has already created and the channels she aims to conquer, Aysu's journey is far from over. The world watches, anticipating what this remarkable young athlete will achieve next, as she continues to write her golden story, one stroke at a time.