‘Sarayburnu Conquerors’ support Swedish swimmer in Mediterranean swim journey

Swedish swimmer Jari Cennet Tammi, who had to abandon his goal of swimming across the Mediterranean from Türkiye for personal reasons, is now back on track with the help of the “Sarayburnu Conquerors” group.

Tammi, who connected with the group via social media, has been training in the waters of Istanbul to complete his ambitious journey, starting from Türkiye.

Training with the Sarayburnu Conquerors in Istanbul

At 66, Tammi is determined to fulfill a long-held dream. In October, he swam from Istanbul to Tekirdag, but he still has the unfinished goal of swimming across the Mediterranean. Now, he is training at various locations across the city.

He begins his swim at the Uskudar’s Harem Sahil Road, heading toward the Maiden’s Tower, and even swims at the Sarayburnu coastline, with the first light of the sun casting a golden glow on the historical city walls.

Tammi, a seasoned open water swimmer, told Anadolu Agency (AA) that his knee prosthetics don’t stop him from swimming, which he says benefits his body. “Swimming is really good for me, as I have knee prosthetics,” he explained.

A long journey ahead: From Istanbul to Cadiz

Tammi shared that his goal is much bigger than just crossing the Bosphorus. He plans to swim from Istanbul to Canakkale, then continue on to Greece. His final destination will be the Spanish city of Cadiz, having swum along the entire Mediterranean coastline. “I thought it would be logical to start swimming from Istanbul, as it is the final port of the Mediterranean,” Tammi said.

The ambitious swimmer’s route will take him through Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Italy, France, and Spain. “This way, I will have swum across all Mediterranean shores,” he added.

Warm hospitality from the Turkish people

Tammi praised the hospitality and warmth of the people he encountered in Türkiye, particularly during his training sessions. He recalled an experience while swimming along the coast when locals offered him food. “Last Saturday, I was swimming and got tired, so I came ashore. There were people sitting there. I told them I was swimming from Istanbul to Cadiz, Spain. They shared their food with me,” Tammi said.

The swimmer expressed his appreciation for the kindness of the Turkish people. He added, “The Turkish people are very kind and helpful. I felt very welcomed.”

Swimming with his ‘home’ on his back

Despite his age, Tammi remains confident about his fitness. He believes he will remain fit even as he grows older. He explained that his two bags, which contain all his essential items like his tent, sleeping bag, food, and water, are always with him, even in the water. “The bags are my home. I carry water in them because there is nowhere to buy water in the sea,” he said.

Tammi, who swam between Stockholm and Helsinki in 2023, reflected on his past achievements and the challenges he faced. “After that experience, I felt I needed a bigger challenge. I came to Istanbul last year, swam outside the city, and then the Sarayburnu Fatihleri (Conquerors) group invited me to come back. Thanks to them, I am now able to finish my unfinished goal,” he said.