Ermin Jusufovic

Started: He took up the sport in 1998 with the SKISO Sinovi Bosne club in Lukavac, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (rferl.org, 21 Nov 2012) Reason: He decided to try the sport after talking to a sitting volleyball coach at a rehabilitation centre where he was staying following his accident. He attended his first training session after returning to Lukavac. "My first impressions of the sport were great." (balkans.aljazeera.net, 04 Aug 2020; dnevniavaz.ba, 15 Apr 2012) Awards: He was named Best Attacker in the men's competition at the 2023 European Championships in Caorle, Italy. (ParaVolley Europe Facebook page, 16 Oct 2023) He was named Best Server for the 2023 Men's EuroLeague. (ParaVolley Europe Facebook page, 19 Jun 2023) In 2023 he received the Distinguished Service award from World ParaVolley. (World ParaVolley Instagram profile, 24 Apr 2023) He was named Most Valuable Player in the men's competition at the 2022 World Championships in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (ParaVolley Europe Facebook page, 13 Nov 2022) He was named Best Blocker in the men's competition at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (worldparavolley.org, 05 Sep 2021) In 2020 he received a Recognition Award from World ParaVolley. The honour acknowledges the recipient's significant contribution towards and development of sitting volleyball. (Instagram profile, 24 Apr 2020; worldparavolley.org, 24 Apr 2020) He was named the 2019 Athlete of the Year in Paralympic Sports by the Sports Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. (rtvslon.ba, 25 Jan 2020) He was named the 2014 Male Para Athlete of the Year and the 2016 Athlete of the Year by the Sports Association of the Tuzla Canton in Bosnia and Herzegovina. (lukavacki.ba, 02 Feb 2017; avaz.ba, 08 Feb 2015)