Nearly 1,000 athletes from more than 10 countries competed Sunday in the 2026 Istanbul Bosporus Triathlon, the world's first and only intercontinental triathlon, crossing between Asia and Europe on a course that combined swimming, cycling and running.
Held in Istanbul's Beykoz district under the auspices of Türkiye's Youth and Sports Ministry and organized by the Türkiye Triathlon Federation with Oral-B as the main sponsor, the sixth edition featured a demanding 2.2-kilometer swim, 40-kilometer bike ride and 10-kilometer run.
The race began with the swimming leg between Kanlıca and Küçüksu. Athletes then mounted their bikes and crossed the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, which was closed to traffic for the event, pedaling from Asia into Europe.
The final stage took competitors along the Küçüksu-Çubuklu route before they crossed the finish line.
The event also introduced an aquathlon competition for the first time this year, adding another challenge to a packed day of racing.
Mikhail Venediktov of Ata Yahşi Sports Club won the men's overall age-group triathlon title, finishing ahead of independent competitor İlker Kökçe and Bahadır Tama of Antalyaspor Club.
Ece Calp, also representing Ata Yahşi Sports Club, won the women's overall age-group title. Sinem Yalçınkaya of Battal Swimming and Triathlon Sports Club finished second, while İrem Görmüş of Triathlon Sports Club took third.
The results capped a competition that once again used Istanbul's unique geography as its defining feature, giving athletes the chance to race between two continents in a single event.
Beyond the competition, this year's event also featured a partnership between Oral-B and the Mother Child Education Foundation, known by its Turkish acronym AÇEV, aimed at promoting children's oral health.
Under the initiative, every athlete who crossed the finish line contributed to efforts supporting healthier oral-care habits and smiles among children.
Özge Erdem, P&G Türkiye and Caucasus marketing and health, oral-care commercial operations president, said the partnership reflected the company's belief that sport and healthy living can contribute to wider social development.
"Sport is a very important area for people to reach a healthier, better life," Erdem said, highlighting the strength, determination and endurance required in triathlon.
She said Oral-B has supported the Istanbul Bosporus Triathlon for six years and linked the event's physical demands to the company's focus on oral health.
Erdem also highlighted Oral-B's product development, including its iO electric toothbrush, which she said was developed through years of research and consultations with more than 1,800 consumers.
She added that the company's Clinical White toothpaste was designed to meet demand for whiter teeth while helping protect against stains and damage.
Erdem said the partnership with AÇEV was designed around the idea that good oral-health habits begin during childhood, with parents playing an important role in helping children develop those habits.
Through the initiative, Oral-B provides oral-care products as well as educational materials and books designed to make tooth-brushing easier and more engaging for children.
The triathlon gives the campaign an added sporting dimension, with every athlete reaching the finish line contributing to the project.
"Every triathlete who crosses the finish line today will contribute to improving a child's oral health," Erdem said.
Türkiye Triathlon Federation President Bayram Yalçınkaya said the event has become an important part of Türkiye's international sporting identity.
"This is a source of great pride for us because our organization is truly unique and intercontinental," Yalçınkaya said.
He said the race has helped raise the profile of triathlon in Türkiye while adding to the country's international visibility.
Last year, Istanbul hosted the first Asian-European Championships, bringing athletes from 58 countries to an event that Yalçınkaya described as another milestone for the sport.
The Bosporus Triathlon's defining feature remains its ability to connect Asia and Europe within the same race, something that has helped turn it into an increasingly recognized international event.
Yalçınkaya said next year's event could take on even greater significance, with the planned competition expected to award direct Olympic qualification places.
He described that prospect as another first for the sport and said events of this scale demonstrate Türkiye's ability to organize major international competitions.
"These kinds of events show your strength, organizational ability and vision on the international stage," Yalçınkaya said.
He also said the race could contribute to Türkiye's wider efforts to promote Istanbul and strengthen the country's case as it pursues major sporting events, including the 2036 Olympics.
Yalçınkaya credited the event's continued growth to cooperation among national institutions, local authorities and private-sector partners.
The Interior Ministry, Istanbul Governorship, Transport Ministry, Youth and Sports Ministry, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and Beykoz Municipality have all contributed to the organization, he said.
Oral-B has also provided sustained sponsorship while incorporating social responsibility initiatives into its involvement.
This year's field of nearly 1,000 athletes from more than 10 countries was smaller than last year's 58-nation championship field but reinforced the event's growing international identity.
