Yasemin Altıntaş was a nominee among 45 women for the Women of the Year Award by the World Open Water Swimming Association. This recognition came after she completed the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming—an honor currently achieved by only 366 swimmers worldwide. The Triple Crown consists of the English Channel, the Catalina Channel and the 20 Bridges Swim around Manhattan.
Altıntaş always loved the water, especially the sea. She started swimming competitively while at RC, where she also formed and captained the swimming team. Altıntaş says it’s hard to separate her RC experience from her experience as a competitive swimmer.
In 2021, she heard about marathon swims: “Initially, I saw it as a box to tick, but then I realized I loved being in vast, open water.” Altıntaş likens the planning for a marathon swim to mapping out every detail of a vacation you’ll take a year from now: “I start by choosing the swim, and each body of water draws me in for a different reason. Once I’ve made my decision, I break down all the key elements—distance, temperature, conditions, tides, currents, sea life, and more. I assess where I currently stand and what I need to work on to be fully prepared when the time comes. Each swim presents both predictable and unpredictable challenges. The more prepared you are for what you can foresee, the more energy and resilience you have to handle the unexpected.”
Altıntaş is grateful for the RC community which gave her lifelong friends and mentors who continue to support her.
