Dina Levačić

Dina Levačić – A record-breaking journey through the world's oceans

Dina Levačić is a Croatian marathon swimmer and keynote speaker whose remarkable career demonstrates what it takes to overcome uncertainty, maintain focus and achieve ambitious goals. Her experiences in some of the world's most challenging waters provide a compelling perspective on resilience, mental strength and high performance under pressure.

Born in Split, Croatia, in 1996, Dina began swimming at just five years old and competed in her first open-water race at nine. Her early talent and dedication led to national titles over both 10 km and 16 km distances. Between 2014 and 2016, she established herself on the international marathon swimming circuit, finishing fourth, fifth and third overall in successive FINA Marathon Swimming Grand Prix seasons.

During this period, she also completed the demanding 88 km Hernandarias–Paraná race in Argentina, gaining valuable experience in extreme endurance swimming.

In 2017, at just 21, Dina shifted her focus towards solo channel swimming. Within only 90 days, she completed the prestigious Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming, consisting of the 20 Bridges swim around Manhattan, the Catalina Channel and the English Channel. She became just the sixth person in history to achieve this feat within such a short period.

Conquering the Oceans Seven and making history

Dina Levačić continued to pursue increasingly demanding challenges across the globe, completing the Molokai Channel, Tsugaru Strait, Strait of Gibraltar, North Channel and Cook Strait. During her Tsugaru Strait crossing in Japan, she also established a course record.

In 2023, on her 27th birthday, Dina achieved one of marathon swimming's greatest milestones by completing the Oceans Seven. She became the youngest woman ever to finish all seven crossings, the 23rd person in history and the first swimmer from the former Yugoslavia to accomplish the challenge.

Her achievements continued in 2026, when she became the first person ever to swim around St Helena. That same year, she completed a 16 km solo crossing of Lake Titicaca at an altitude of 3,812 metres, becoming only the second woman to accomplish the crossing alone.

Dina also holds the Irish Triple Crown and the Original Triple Crown, with records at Galway Bay, Fastnet Rock and the Bristol Channel.

Each achievement reflects years of preparation, the ability to adapt to changing conditions and a willingness to face situations where success is never guaranteed.

Exploring new waters and pushing boundaries

For Dina Levačić, marathon swimming is as much about exploration as it is about records. Her passion for discovering new waters has taken her to remarkable locations across several continents.

In South Africa, she has tackled False Bay, Cape Point and Robben Island. In Australia, her swims include the Rottnest Channel and Derwent River. In the United States, she has completed challenges around Alcatraz and Angel Island in San Francisco, as well as Coronado in San Diego.

Closer to home, Dina has explored Croatia's Adriatic coastline through swims around Goli Otok and Sveti Grgur, alongside an 18.5 km route on the island of Mljet, connecting the Small Lake with Odysseus' Cave.

These experiences have strengthened her understanding of how to approach unfamiliar environments, manage risk and remain committed when circumstances change unexpectedly.

From elite sport to scientific research

Beyond her achievements in the water, Dina Levačić brings an academic perspective to endurance, performance and human behaviour.

She holds a master's degree in educational rehabilitation from the University of Zagreb and is completing her PhD at the University of Split School of Medicine. Her research examines the health and psychological aspects of marathon swimming, combining scientific investigation with firsthand experience of extreme physical and mental demands.

As part of her doctoral research, she has conducted in-depth interviews with 30 elite channel swimmers from 14 countries, exploring the experiences and psychological challenges associated with endurance swimming.

This combination of sporting experience and academic research gives Dina a distinctive foundation for her keynote presentations. She connects the realities of performing in unpredictable environments with insights into preparation, motivation, psychological resilience and decision-making.

Swimming with purpose and creating positive change

Dina Levačić believes that extraordinary sporting achievements can also create opportunities to support others and protect the natural environment.

Through annual charity swims, she has helped raise more than €50,000 for causes supporting children with developmental difficulties, people with disabilities, young people experiencing mental health challenges, children without parental care and abandoned animals.

Her commitment to the environment is equally important. She leads ocean-focused initiatives such as 104 Dalmatinca, an ambitious project involving swimming around 104 Dalmatian islands, alongside a campaign dedicated to protecting the endangered Mediterranean monk seal.

These initiatives reflect her belief in using personal ambition and public attention to contribute to causes beyond individual sporting success.

Book Dina Levačić for your event

As a keynote speaker, Dina Levačić takes audiences into the world of extreme open-water swimming, where changing weather, physical exhaustion and uncertainty demand exceptional preparation and mental strength.

Her experiences offer relevant lessons for businesses, leaders, teams and organisations facing demanding goals and unpredictable circumstances. Drawing on her sporting career, academic research and charitable initiatives, Dina explores what it means to remain focused, make decisions under pressure and keep moving forward when the outcome is uncertain.

Her keynote presentations address themes including:

• Resilience and mental strength: Developing the determination to continue through setbacks, discomfort and difficult circumstances.
• High performance under pressure: Understanding the importance of preparation, focus and disciplined execution when facing demanding challenges.
• Leading through uncertainty: Learning to adapt, make decisions and maintain direction when conditions change unexpectedly.
• Goal-setting and perseverance: Turning ambitious objectives into achievable milestones through consistency and commitment.
• Purpose-driven achievement: Using personal success as a platform for meaningful contributions to society and the environment.

Dina's story demonstrates how exceptional achievements are built through preparation, persistence and the ability to respond to challenges beyond our control.

Book Dina Levačić for your next conference, corporate event or leadership gathering and give your audience an inspiring perspective on resilience, navigating uncertainty and discovering what is possible when determination meets preparation.