Saska Sokolov

Started: She took up Para athletics in 2015 in Belgrade, Serbia. (Athlete, 05 Nov 2019) Reason: She trained in handball for 12 years before getting involved in Para athletics. Coach Vlastimir Golubovic noticed her potential while she was playing handball, and encouraged her to take up Para athletics. "Javelin throw is one of the most difficult disciplines and also one of the best to watch, somehow similar to handball." (TVKopernikus YouTube channel, 29 Jul 2019; iserbia.rs, 06 Feb 2017; plusonline.rs, 28 Mar 2016; pirotskevesti.rs, 19 Jul 2015 ) Ambition: To win gold at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (lat.sputnikportal.rs, 16 Jan 2024) Awards: She and fellow athletics competitor Zeljko Dimitrijevic were Serbia's flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (medias.paris2024.org, 28 Aug 2024) She was named Athlete of the Year for 2023 by the Sports Association of Persons with Disabilities of Belgrade in Serbia. She was also named 2021 Sportswoman of the Year for 2021 in Belgrade. (portaloinvalidnosti.net, 18 Jan 2024, 13 Jul 2023; Facebook profile, 25 Jan 2022) Additional Info: HANDBALL Earlier in her sporting career she played handball for the ZRK Pirot club in Serbia. "I played right wing at ZRK Pirot. I wanted to show others that people with an impairment can do any sport, no matter what. I never let anyone pull me back from achieving my goals. I pushed myself forward and showed that with will, courage, and confidence, people with an impairment can do regular sport as well." (espreso.rs, 25 Oct 2019) FURTHER EDUCATION She has studied sports coaching at the College of Sports and Health in Belgrade, Serbia. (iserbia.rs, 06 Feb 2017)