ANKARA

Turkish swimmer Derin Toparlak became the world champion in men’s 5,000-meter race at the CMAS Open Water Finswimming World Championship held in Santa Marta, Colombia on Saturday.

Sahin Ozen, president of Turkish Underwater Sports Federation (TSSF), congratulated Toparlak and said: "We are very happy and excited. Our successful national athlete Derin Toparlak became the world champion in 5,000-meter race in Colombia. He put on a marvelous performance."

In July, the 24-year-old had also bagged the gold medal in the men's 1,500-meters from the CMAS Finswimming Senior World Championships.

Toparlak was the first Turkish athlete to win the world championship in adult finswimming.