My Journey
From a young age, I was driven by big dreams and a fierce commitment to excellence. Swimming became my passion early on, and by 12, I had set a bold goal — to compete at the Olympics. At 16, I competed in Athens as the youngest Slovenian Olympian.
But despite my best physical preparation, I wasn’t mentally ready for the pressure. I struggled to perform at my best and finished 18th — a tough lesson that showed me talent and hard work weren’t enough. That’s when I trully realized the importance of mental training.
I knew success wasn’t just about training — it was about mindset. I set high goals, visualized success, and created detailed action plans. Mental preparation became my edge — and ultimately led to my Olympic medal. This experience taught me the power of mental strength.
In the years that followed, I doubled down on mental training. I learned how to manage stress, stay focused, and harness mental strategies to perform at my best under pressure. This shift in mindset made all the difference.
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, that mental strength paid off. I became the first Slovenian swimmer to win an Olympic medal — a silver in the 200m freestyle. The physical training was intense, but the real breakthrough came from mastering the mental game.
My ability to stay calm, focused, and mentally prepared under pressure was what truly set me apart.
My passion for understanding how the mind influences performance led me to pursue a degree in Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, with a focus on Neuropsychology. I later earned a Master’s degree in Performance Psychology from National University in San Diego, graduating with honors.
As part of my academic journey, I conducted groundbreaking research at the University of California, San Diego. My work explored the neural mechanisms of optimal performance, resilience, and stress coping in elite performers, including Olympic athletes and U.S. Navy SEALs.
This blend of research and real-world experience shaped my belief that mastering mental skills is essential for achieving excellence.
Today, I dedicate my time to empowering individuals and teams across diverse fields—athletes striving for their personal best, corporate leaders navigating high-stakes decisions, and creatives seeking clarity and focus.
Through my work as a performance psychologist, published researcher, and TEDx speaker, I provide practical mental tools and strategies to help people unlock their full potential, build resilience, and thrive under pressure.
Whether through online courses, workshops, or one-on-one coaching, individuals learn to harness the power of their mind to enhance wellbeing and achieve peak performance.
Everything you do, and who you are, is a result of your mind.
— From my book Between Two Lanes
My Milestones
2008
Olympic Silver Medalist, Beijing 2008
Olympic Silver Medalist in the 200m freestyle, making history as the first Slovenian Olympic swimming medalist.
2013
University of California Berkeley, degree in Psychology, Graduated with Honors
Earned a degree in Psychology from UC Berkeley, specializing in neuropsychology and mental resilience.
2013/14
Neuroscience Research at UCSD (Opti Brain Lab)
I had the privilege of working at UCSD (Opti Brain Lab), under the leadership of Dr. Martin Paulus, where we explored neural mechanisms of resilience in US Navy Seals, Marines and Olympic Athletes. As a researcher I was published in two journals - Behavioral Neuroscience and Biological Psychology.
2014
Emirates Airlines Psychology Department- Internship
Joined the Emirates Airlines Psychology Department as an intern, developing mental performance strategies for airline pilots.
2015
TEDxLjubljana - Do Pilots Need Mental Training?
I presented my program PREP – Pilot Resilience Enhancing Program – which is essential in the world of aviation, as pilots are expected to perform optimally in critical situations. This ability requires not only knowledge but also psychological preparation and daily mental training.
2016
National University, San Diego, USA Masters Degree in Performance Psychology
2017
Performance Director, Fitsmind
- Rowegians- mentally prepared 4 Norwegian girls for the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge- 5000km row from Canary Islands to Antigua.
- Junior Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science. Speaker at Future Education Conference in Rome (November, 2017)
2018
Founder and Full-time Performance Psychologist at my own practice
Through my work as a performance psychologist, speaker, and mental skills coach, I provide practical tools and strategies to help people unlock their full potential, build resilience, and thrive under pressure. Whether through online courses, workshops, or my products, I continue to share my passion for helping others harness the power of their mind to achieve excellence.
2019
Published My Book, Between Two Lanes: Mental Training Program for Swimmers
A personal and professional milestone, this book shares key insights from my journey and expertise, blending the worlds of high-performance sports and psychology. It provides readers with practical strategies for building resilience and unlocking their potential.
2020
Licensed Hypnotic Practitioner
Completed training at Mastermind Akademija, officially licensed by the Society of Neuro-Linguistic Programming™. This milestone expanded my toolkit with powerful tools for deep behavioral change, emotional regulation, and performance enhancement—further enriching the psychological techniques I use with my clients.
2022
Developed Play to Make It Happen
Launched Play to Make It Happen, a powerful and interactive tool designed to inspire individuals to dream big, set meaningful goals, and take actionable steps toward unlocking their full potential.
2023
Launched Goal Setting Masterclass
Introduced a 3-hour pre-recorded masterclass designed to accompany Play to Make It Happen. This engaging course helps individuals dive deeper into goal-setting and mindset strategies, providing step-by-step guidance to turn dreams into achievements.
2024
Introduced a 6-Week Online Mental Training Program
Started a 6-week online program in Slovenia, personally guiding 5 groups of around 40 individuals each through mental training techniques. Over 200 participants joined this transformative journey, building resilience, sharpening focus, and achieving personal and professional breakthroughs together.
What I Do
I specialize in helping individuals and teams develop mental toughness, resilience, and clarity under pressure. Whether you’re an individual seeking personal growth or a company looking to empower your team, my services are designed to unlock potential and achieve lasting results. Here’s how we can work together:
For Individuals
Enroll in online and cohort-based courses designed to enhance mental resilience, goal-setting, and peak performance strategies.
For Organizations
Book keynotes, workshops, and tailored training sessions to empower teams with performance psychology tools.
My Products
Explore my books and psychology-based tools to gain actionable insights and strategies for personal and professional success.
Why They Trust Me
Insights from athletes, executives, and high performers.
Tina Maze
3x Olympic Medal Winner and Overall World Cup Winner
As a former Alpine skier, I know how important it is to have the right mindset to achieve top results. If you want to improve your performance and get the right mindset, I highly recommend Sara.
Jan Vide
Loyola Marymount Lions Player, European Youth Champion and MVP 2023
Working with Sara in the field of psychological preparation means a lot to me. Sara is not just a sports psychologist for me, but a mentor who has experienced similar situations to what I am going through.
Natalie Coughlin Hall
American Twelve-Time Olympic Medalist
Few people understand the power of psychology like Sara Isakovic. Not only has she achieved the greatest honors in sport, but she is also an accomplished psychologist.
Latest Media + Blog
Sprehod na dan - Svet je lep kraj, stvari so mogoče in ljudje so krasni
V deveti epizodi podkasta Sprehod na dan sem z Ajdo Kolar govorila o tem, kako pomembno je negovati notranjega otroka, postavljati iskrene cilje in si dovoliti rasti – tudi takrat, ko nas življenje za trenutek potegne nazaj. Dotaknili sva se moči vizualizacije, pomena prisotnosti v vsakdanjem življenju in tega, kako ohranjam igrivost, kljub vsem resnim izzivom odraslosti.
Na Radio Sora sem delila svojo pot od olimpijske plavalke do performans psihologinje in mame. Govorila sem o tem, zakaj je pomembno, da treniramo tudi svojo glavo, ne le telo, kako se soočamo z negativnim notranjim dialogom in kako lahko psihološka orodja – kot so čuječnost, vizualizacija in zavestno postavljanje ciljev – vsakemu izmed nas pomagajo do večje stabilnosti, samozavesti in uspeha. Dotaknili sva se tudi vpliva telefonov na otroke, vloge staršev in nujnosti notranje prisotnosti v vsakdanjem življenju.
Telekom Slovenije PODKAST - Uživajmo pametno: Trenirajmo čuječnost 3 minute na dan
V sedmi epizodi podkasta Uživajmo pametno sem se z Nikom pogovarjala o vplivu interneta na možgane mladostnikov, samopodobo in koncentracijo. Dotaknila sva se tudi moči treninga čuječnosti in zakaj že tri minute na dan lahko naredijo razliko.