Paula Novina

Started: She was introduced to the water as a baby, at five months old. She signed up to a swimming school in October 2010, and began competing in 2013. (tportal.hr, 26 Aug 2021; Athlete, 13 Aug 2018; natator.hr, 01 Jan 2016) Reason: Swimming was the first sport she tried, and she enjoyed being in the water. "I started swimming because my mum was looking for any way to rehabilitate me so that I could walk. So, at the suggestion of a doctor, she included me in a swimming programme." (tris.com.hr, 22 Apr 2024; Athlete, 13 Aug 2018) Milestones: At age 17, she was the youngest athlete to represent Croatia at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (tportal.hr, 26 Aug 2021; SportsDeskOnline, 20 May 2022) Awards: In 2018 and 2019 she was named the Most Successful Female Athlete by the Croatian Para Swimming Federation. (natator.hr, 01 Feb 2020) She was named the 2014 Sporting Hope by the Croatian Paralympic Committee [HPO]. (natator.hr, 01 Feb 2020)