Hi, I'm Danai Gkogkosi

International student-athlete from Greece and a Division I swimmer at UNC Asheville. Through swimming, I've gained discipline, resilience, and strong leadership skills. I'm also deeply passionate about content creation and journalism, and I love using storytelling as a way to connect and inspire.

View My Work Contact Me

About Me

International Division 1 athlete & content creation passionate

I'm an international student-athlete from Greece, currently swimming at a Division I university in Asheville, North Carolina. I've been a swimmer for 17 years and proudly represented the Greek national team for six of those. Swimming has shaped who I am, teaching me discipline, resilience, teamwork, time management, and leadership. Ever since I was young, I dreamed of moving to the U.S. to study and compete as a Division I athlete—and I made that dream come true. Coming to the States pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me grow both personally and professionally.

Outside of the pool, I'm passionate about content creation—since the days of Musical.ly, I've loved making funny videos and sharing them online, now mostly on TikTok. I'm also deeply interested in journalism; I love hearing people's stories, exploring different perspectives, and bringing them to life through writing.

View Resume
Download Resume

My Portfolio

I've been swimming for 17 years, ever since I first jumped in the water at 3 years old. From the very beginning, I fell in love with how swimming made me feel—strong, confident, and in control. I was a member of my country's national team for 6 years, competing at a high level and gaining experiences that shaped who I am. All the dedication, discipline, and hard work paid off when I moved to the United States to become a Division I athlete at UNC Asheville.

Being part of the UNCA swim and dive team has taught me valuable skills beyond the pool, like leadership, time management, and team building. As a full-time student-athlete, I train up to 20 hours a week while balancing academics and a social life. It's challenging, but it's helped me grow into a more focused, resilient, and well-rounded person. Every step of this journey has made me stronger, and I'm proud of how far I've come.

My publications in The Blue Banner

As the Videography & Social Media Intern for UNC Asheville Athletics, I created engaging video and social media content that helped boost engagement by 20%. I filmed and edited game highlights, athlete interviews, and promotional materials, and contributed to the department's digital marketing strategies. This experience taught me how to create content that audiences enjoy and helped me understand what types of posts are most appealing and effective in capturing attention.

I managed the Instagram account for the swim and dive team, creating graphics and content to promote the team and engage our audience.

Stay tuned for my fashion projects—coming soon.

Women's Swimming & Diving Roster

Unca Bulldogs

UNC-Asheville Adds Greek Junior National Team Member Danai Gkogkosi for Fall of 2023

Swim Swam

Phenomenon swimmer

Patris(Greek newspaper)

Premiere with 'green' participation

greencorner(Greek site)

Young people in the United States and Europe disengage from voting

The Blue Banner

Student-athletes struggle to keep everything under control

The Blue Banner

WHY ASHEVILLE

2025, UNC Asheville Athletic Department Videography internship.
I created this video during my internship with UNC Asheville Athletics to highlight student-athletes' journeys to Asheville and how they've grown through their sport and the school's support. It was posted on YouTube and a shorter reel on Instagram gained 10K views. I used a DSLR camera, tripod, lighting and sound equipment, and edited with Premiere and Adobe Audition.

WHY ASHEVILLE

2025, UNC Asheville Athletic Department Videography internship.
I created this video during my internship with UNC Asheville Athletics to highlight student-athletes' journeys to Asheville and how they've grown through their sport and the school's support. It was posted on YouTube and a shorter reel on Instagram gained 10K views. I used a DSLR camera, tripod, lighting and sound equipment, and edited with Premiere and Adobe Audition.

INTERNATIONALS AGAINST THE CURRENT

2024, UNC Asheville Video Production class
I made this documentary for my Video Production class as a part of our non-fiction project. I was the producer and the editor of this documentary and we interviewed two international student-athletes about their obstacles they face when they move to the United States and how they have grown from it. I used a DSLR camera, tripod, sound equipment, lights and edited this video through Premiere and Adobe edition.

IGNITE

2024, UNC Asheville MCOM Strategic Communication course
I completed this video during my Strategic Communication class for the Giving Tuesday campaign. The name of the campaign was Ignite Impact and we raised money for our MCOM department. It was posted on the UNCA MCOM Instagram account and we achieved the campaign's goal which was 45 donors. I used a DSLR camera and edited this video through IMovies.

TOP TEN TIMES 50 FREE

UNC-Asheville, SWIM and DIVE

TOP TEN TIMES 100 FREE

UNC-Asheville, SWIM and DIVE

TOP TEN TIMES 200 FREE

UNC-Asheville, SWIM and DIVE

My Experience

Education

Aug 2023 - 2027

University of North Carolina Asheville

Division 1 Student-Athlete

  • Bachelor's Degree, Mass Communication/Media Studies

Work Experience

Social Media Marketing
Jan 2025 - Present

Lifeguard

UNC Asheville Athletics

  • Ensured the safety of swimmers by monitoring pool activities and enforcing safety rolls
  • Provided emergency response and first aid when needed
  • Taught water safety practices and assisted with swim instruction
Jan 2025 - Present

Social Media Marketing Intern

UNC Asheville Athletics

  • Created engaging video and social media content for the athletic department
  • Increased social media engagement by 20% through targeted campaigns
  • Captured and edited game highlights, athlete interviews, and promotional material
  • Managed social media engagement and contributed to digital marketing strategies
Marketing Specialist
Aug 2023 - Present

Student Athlete Division 1

UNC Asheville Athletics

  • Competed and trained 20 hours per week as w full-time student-athlete while maintaining a 3.8 GPA. Fostered positive team environment with inspiration and positivity
  • Developed entertainment concepts for game breaks
Marketing Specialist
Jan 2024 - Apr 2024

Marketing Specialist

UNC Asheville Athletics

  • Organized and managed basketball game promotions to enhance audience engagement
  • Brainstormed and executed entertainment idea for game breaks to improve fan experience

Licenses & certifications

Issued Dec 2024 · Expires Dec 2026

American Red Cross Lifeguard Certificate

University of North Carolina Asheville

Issued Jan 2024

Personal Branding Certificate

University of North Carolina Asheville

My Skills

Sports Videography
Time Management
Team Building
Recruiting
Leadership Development
Social Media Content Creation
Athlete Branding
Content Creation
Adobe Premiere Pro
iMovie
English (Fluent)
Greek (Native)

Get In Touch

Asheville, NC
danaegogosi@gmail.com