Olivera Nakovska-Bikova

Started: She began shooting in 1997 in Bitola, North Macedonia. (Athlete, 13 Sep 2016) Reason: She was inspired by North Macedonian shooter Branimir Jovanovski, who won a gold medal at the 1992 Paralympic Games in Barcelona. Jovanovski was competing as an Independent Paralympic participant that year. (paralympic.org, 2012; Athlete, 25 Aug 2011) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (paralympic.org, 16 Mar 2022) Milestones: She became the first athlete representing North Macedonia to secure a Paralympic gold medal in any sport by winning the SH1 10m air pistol at the 2012 Games in London. The medal was also the first of any colour won by a female North Macedonian athlete at the Paralympic Games. (SportsDeskOnline, 15 Jun 2021; macedoniaonline.eu, 12 Sep 2012; vlada.mk, 02 Sep 2012; paralympic.org, 2012) Awards: She was named Para Athlete of the Year for 2019, 2020, and 2022 in Bitola, North Macedonia. (Municipality of Bitola Facebook page, 18 Feb 2023; bitolanews.mk, 27 Feb 2021, 09 Feb 2020) She was named Best Female Para Athlete of the Year for 2022 in North Macedonia. (Agency of Youth and Sport Facebook page, 28 Dec 2022) She was flag bearer for North Macedonia at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (myinfo.rio2016.com, 06 Sep 2016) She was named the 2012 Athlete of the Year in Bitola, North Macedonia. (sitel.com.mk, 02 Feb 2013) Additional Info: MOTHERHOOD She competed at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro while six months pregnant. She gave birth to her second child, Ilija, in November that year. (fokus.mk, 15 Nov 2016) OTHER ACTIVITIES She has served as president of SSRI Bitola, a sports club for people with an impairment in Bitola, North Macedonia. (SSRI Bitola Facebook page, 15 Nov 2022; paralympic.org, 15 Nov 2022)