Leya Parkin
Who are you?
I’m Leya Parkin, a 23-year-old endurance swimmer and swim coach driven by a passion for long-distance challenges and testing the limits of both body and mind.
What are your goals?
My next major goal is to complete 32 miles at Midmar in 2027 and become the first woman to achieve it. From there, I plan to take on even greater endurance challenges. I want to inspire others to realise that limits are often self-imposed, and that with the right mindset, the body is capable of far more than we think
What is your why?
After high school, I fell out of sport until I was faced with a major turning point—a hip replacement. My recovery would ultimately determine my quality of life, and through that process, I rediscovered how powerful sport is, not just for the body but for the mind. It made me realise that we’re given one body to carry us through life, so why not take care of it and see what it’s truly capable of? Through my journey, I hope to inspire others to do the same. Many of my long-distance swims are also for charity, which gives everything I do a deeper purpose.
