ZAGREB, 23 Feb (Hina) - Long-distance swimmer Dina Levačić announced in Split that she was preparing for two demanding challenges - a swim around the island of Saint Helena in the Atlantic and across Lake Titicaca in Bolivia, with the aim of achieving world-class results.

Speaking about the first challenge, she described it as a pioneering 45-kilometre route around the island, some 2,000 kilometres west of the African coast, where Napoleon spent his final years.

The swim around the island will involve strong, shifting currents, powerful winds and high waves driven by constant transatlantic winds. "There are no previous swimmers' experiences on this route, so it's almost a step into the unknown, although organisers and locals have shared all available information," she added.

Her second challenge takes her to Bolivia, where she plans a 16-kilometre swim in Lake Titicaca at an altitude of 3,812 metres, with water temperatures of around 15°C. "The greatest challenge is the altitude. It will be a solo swim, and if all goes well, I will be only the second woman to complete it," she said.

She emphasised the logistical complexity of the project and the support of her family. 

"This is the adventure of a lifetime - a blend of physical challenge and unique experiences in nature. It's not just about breaking records, even though being the first to swim around Saint Helena would be special, but about experiencing something very few people ever do," Levačić said.