It is not a coincidence that I left this story at the end of my weekly challenge. This wonderful woman I met in person, and I was impressed by her strength and positive way of thinking.
Winter Paralympic Games has started today, and if you are looking for some true heroes among us - try there.
Nobody knows what tomorrow brings
In 2009. she was already world known table tennis player. She travelled, played, enjoying everything that was going on in her life. The results come after many years of hard training. Her childhood was pretty stressful. She was born in Vukovar, the city that badly suffered during the war and she had to move to another place. But she started winning medals and could finally enjoy the results of her effort.
Life changed in a second
'I realized I couldn't move my neck, and I couldn't breed, but I started telling myself just relax and don't panic. If you start to panic you will suffocate. Just breed, they are coming for you.'
This is how Sandra Paović started telling me her story when I interviewed her a year ago. Even then after eight years of the accident, she could barely move, only with the help of a walker for handicapped persons or crutches.
Travelling in a van to another tournament, from Paris to Poland, the driver fell asleep. Table tennis player on the top of her sports career had a terrible car accident. Sandra's spin was badly hurt.
She almost died, and the doctors told her she will never walk again. She could not breathe without the aid of the apparatus, for the first four weeks.
The days of rehabilitation followed, and only with the power of will she stood on her feet again.
Born to win
'I can not compare this period of my life with anything, but I never gave up. Even today every move hurts, even now as we are talking. You can only imagine what it feels like when I'm playing table tennis.'
Yes, she is playing table tennis, and she is Olimpic gold medalist. She can play table tennis standing only on one spot. But she won, the most important battle of her life. In spite everything she's been through, she's smiling all the time.
A lot of people in Croatia took a part in humanitarian aid after Sandra's accident and gave their contribution
She published an autobiography 'Born to win'
Sandra and Danijel are married and happy together. Her husband is in a wheelchair after he jumped on his head in the river
If you think you can't find the way - just think again!
This is the end of my sports week - I enjoyed it - you probably a little less :)) but as I wrote this inspirational stories, I can assure you I'm more determent not to give up! :))