Eva Buzo (born 1986) is an Australian marathon swimmer and human rights barrister. She is the first woman to complete the Strait of Otranto swim, holds the record for earliest English Channel crossing in the season by a woman, and is the first person to complete a swim between Juanchaco and Buenaventura in Colombia.[1][2][3] Her human rights work focuses on international criminal law and conflict situations. She was the lawyer of slain Rohingya activist Mohib Ullah.[4][5] She is the granddaughter of Australian Albanian civil engineer Zihni Buzo (1912-2006) and niece of Australian writer Alex Buzo (1944-2006).[6]
 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Australian |
| Born | 1986 (age 39–40) |
| Relatives | Alex Buzo (uncle), Zihni Buzo (grandfather) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Swimming |
Marathon swimming
editAfter swimming competitively as a child, Buzo took up marathon swimming in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.[7] Her first recorded marathon swim was a two-day, 77-km Derwent River swim in Tasmania, Australia on 24 and 25 March 2022.[3]
Notable swims
editBuzo has completed three swims which are recognised as "firsts":
Strait of Otranto
editAfter her first attempt in June 2023 was unsuccessful, Buzo swam 92 kilometres (ratified by the Marathon Swimmers Federation as 77.2km point-to-point[3]) from Lecce, Italy to Vlorë, Albania on 17-19 August 2024 in 34 hours and 52 minutes.[6][8] She is recognised as the first woman to complete the crossing.[3] She chose the swim to pay tribute to the 50 Albanians who died in March 1997 trying to cross from Albania to Italy and to honour her Albanian Australian grandfather, Zihni Buzo (1912-2006).[6][9]
English Channel
editJuanchaco to Buenaventura, Colombia
editBuzo completed the 40km swim from Juanchaco to Buenaventura on 21 June 2025 in more than 10 hours.[12] Her stated goal was to "pay tribute and give visibility to the resistance of the people of Buenaventura". She is considered the first person to complete the swim.[2]
Other notable swims include:
Protest swim around Sazan Island
editBuzo decided to undertake the swim after learning that her younger cousin was at the Flamingo Revolution protests.[7] On 6 June 2026, she swam 15km around Sazan Island in Vlorë, Albania to protest the development of the island by the Trump family.[13] On 8 June 2026, she spoke to protestors gathered in front of the Prime Minister's Office in Tirana, saying, "You are inspiring the whole world, keep raising your voice. You need to keep being in the same form. We will be behind you, supporting you".[14]
Human rights work
editBuzo is a human rights barrister and executive director of human rights organisation Humanus.[15] Her decision to join the human rights field was inspired by her late grandfather Zihni Buzo's passion for serving others and by watching the breakup of Yugoslavia and the situation with Kosovo.[7] Her work has focused on international criminal law and conflict situations, specifically in Myanmar with the Rohingya people.[7] She represented Rohingya activist Mohib Ullah at the time of his murder.[5] Through Humanus she has also represented civilian victims of United States military operations in Somalia.[15]
External links
editReferences
edit- 1 2 "Australian woman swims English channel in historic crossing". www.abc.net.au. 2024-06-09. Retrieved 2026-05-11.
- 1 2 Naranjo, Paula (22 June 2025). "Así fue el recibimiento a la atleta australiana Eva Buzo, luego de nadar por más de 10 horas en aguas de Buenaventura". infobae (in Spanish). Retrieved 2026-06-17.
- 1 2 3 4 "Eva Buzo - Strait of Otranto | Marathon Swimmers Federation". Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ↑ "U.S. condemns killing of Rohingya leader, urges full probe". NBC News. 2021-10-01. Retrieved 2026-05-11.
- 1 2 McPherson, Poppy; Paul, Ruma (1 October 2021). "Killing of top Rohingya leader underscores violence in Bangladesh camps". Reuters.
- 1 2 3 Sinoruka, Fjori (2024-08-23). "Sydney-Based Lawyer Makes 'Special Swim' from Italy to Albania". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 2026-05-11.
- 1 2 3 4 Euronews Albania (2026-06-13). Eva Buzo për protestat, Ramën dhe të ardhmen e Shqipërisë.| Eva Buzo: Why I Swam Around Sazan... Retrieved 2026-06-29 – via YouTube.
- ↑ Albania, Euronews (2023-06-23). "Albanian lawyer's attempt at record-breaking journey comes to an end". Euronews Albania. Retrieved 2026-05-11.
- ↑ "Why Sydney human rights lawyer is swimming to Albania". The Daily Telegraph. 11 June 2023.
- 1 2 "Ultramarathon swimmer joined by seal during record-breaking swim across Channel". Yahoo News. 2024-06-14. Retrieved 2026-05-11.
- ↑ "English Channel: 'Swimming with a seal in the channel gave me a lift'". www.bbc.com. 2024-06-18. Retrieved 2026-05-11.
- ↑ Barrera, Duvan (2025-06-22). "La australiana Eva Buzo nada más de diez horas en Pacífico colombiano contra la violencia - EFE". EFE Noticias (in Spanish). Retrieved 2026-06-17.
- ↑ Press, Associated (2026-06-06). "What to know about the growing opposition to Trump family linked resort in Albania". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 2026-06-08.
- ↑ ""You are inspiring the whole world"/ Swimmer Eva Buzo present at the protest". CNA. 2026-06-08. Retrieved 2026-06-29.
- 1 2 Gabobe, Mohamed. "'Killed us twice': Families of US drone victims seek reparations in Somalia". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2026-05-11.