Antonio Franko

Started: He trained in sport for rehabilitation purposes in his youth. He began Para sports at age 19. "As a kid, I was involved in swimming, then boxing, and I didn't see myself in Para sports." (24sata.hr, 11 Apr 2023; novilist.hr, 28 Aug 2021) Reason: He was encouraged to take up Para sports by Croatian Para athlete Milka Milinkovic. "I started sports for rehabilitation. Due to my impairment, I constantly had some kind of surgery, so recovery meant working in the pool to train my leg. That's why swimming was my first contact with sports. As for Para sports, at the persuasion of our Paralympian Milka Milinkovic, I started swimming more intensively. Then the president of the club where I swam got me interested in triathlon, which he did recreationally. I gave myself a chance and tried it." (24sata.hr, 11 Apr 2023; novilist.hr, 28 Aug 2021) Ambition: To win a medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (24sata.hr, 11 Apr 2023) Milestones: He became the first triathlete representing Croatia to compete at the Paralympic Games when he participated in the PTS4 event at the 2020 Games in Tokyo. (hpo.hr, 25 Sep 2023; sportcom.hr, 23 Sep 2023; SportsDeskOnline, 12 Dec 2023) Awards: He was named Para Athlete of the Year for 2023 in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Croatia. (torpedo.media, 05 Mar 2024) He was named Male Para Athlete of the Year for 2021 and 2022 in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Croatia. (kanal-ri.hr, 01 Mar 2023; riprsten.com, 25 Mar 2022) Additional Info: COACHING He has worked as a football coach and basketball coach in Kraljevica, Croatia. "When I train other athletes, it comes to me as a small break from my sport and I can say that it is a kind of relaxation from my training. This job is a challenge for me because one day, when I end my career, I plan to become a coach. This is an opportunity for me to build myself into something I want to do in the future." (24sata.hr, 11 Apr 2023; novilist.hr, 28 Aug 2021)