Biography
Started: She took up the sport at a rehabilitation centre in Kovacova, Slovakia. (superfitonline.sk, 22 Jul 2020)
Reason: She was introduced to sport through her rehabilitation programme. She also tried handcycling, skiing, and swimming but was best at table tennis. "At the National Rehabilitation Centre I borrowed a racket and started playing table tennis to fill free time. It suited me, so I started full-time." (svetmobility.sk, 29 Dec 2022; ozene.zoznam.sk, 28 Feb 2009)
Milestones: At the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, she and Para shooter Veronika Vadovicova became the first female athletes to represent Slovakia at six editions of the Paralympic Games. (SportsDeskOnline, 01 Feb 2022)
She became the first table tennis player representing Slovakia to win a gold medal at the Paralympic Games when she was victorious in the women's class 3 singles event at the 2000 Games in Sydney. (SportsDeskOnline, 08 Mar 2024)
Awards: She and cyclist Patrik Kuril were Slovakia's flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (medias.paris2024.org, 28 Aug 2024)
She was named 2023 Para Table Tennis Player of the Year by the Slovak Table Tennis Association [SSTZ]. (paralympic.sk, 01 Mar 2024)
In 2005 she became an honorary citizen of Ruzomberok, Slovakia. (paralympic.sk, 18 Mar 2021)
Additional Info: WHEELCHAIR CURLING
She has represented Slovakia in wheelchair curling, including at the 2014 and 2022 editions of the Paralympic Winter Games. "I started wheelchair curling when it was taking off in Slovakia. A team must have players of both sexes, so women were in high demand. I think the national wheelchair curling team has achieved a lot in a short time." (SportsDeskOnline, 08 Mar 2024; svetmobility.sk, 29 Dec 2022)
OTHER ACTIVITIES
She has been a member of the International Table Tennis Federation [ITTF] athletes' commission. In 2021 she applied to become a member of the International Paralympic Committee [IPC] Athletes' Council but was not one of the six athletes selected. (paralympic.org, 04 Sep 2021; paralympic.sk, 18 Mar 2021)
Frequently Asked Questions
Personal Details
GenderFemale
Birth DateMarch 29, 1980
Place of ResidenceLIPTOVSKY MIKULAS
OccupationLawyer
EducationLaw - Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia
Languages SpokenCzech, English, German, Slovak
CoachViktoria Lucenkova [national]; Andrej Bardon [national]
Highlights
| Rank | Event | Year | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paralympic Games | ||||
| 1 | Singles - Class 3 | 2000 | Sydney, NSW, AUS | |
| 2 | Singles - Class 3 | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | |
| 2 | Singles - Class 3 | 2008 | Beijing, CHN | |
| 3 | Singles - Class 3 | 2012 | London, GBR | |
| 3 | Singles - Class 3 | 2004 | Athens, GRE | |
| 5 | Singles - Class 3 | 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, BRA | |
| 5 | Women's Team Class 4-5 | 2004 | Athens, GRE | |
| 5 | Women's Team Class 4-5 | 2000 | Sydney, NSW, AUS | |
| World Championships | ||||
| 1 | Singles - Class 3 | 2002 | Taipei, TPE | |
| 2 | Singles - Class 3 | 2010 | Gwangju, KOR | |
| 2 | Singles - Class 3 | 2006 | Montreux, SUI | |
| 2 | Women's Team Class 4 | 2002 | Taipei, TPE | |
| 2 | Singles - Class 3 | 1998 | Paris, FRA | |
| 3 | Singles - Class 3 | 2022 | Granada, ESP | |
| 4 | Women's Open Wheelchair | 2010 | Gwangju, KOR | |
| 5 | Singles - Class 3 | 2018 | Lasko, SLO | |
| 5 | Women's Team Class 4-5 | 2017 | Bratislava, SVK | |
| 5 | Women's Team Class 4 | 2006 | Montreux, SUI | |
| 9 | Mixed Doubles Class 7 X | 2022 | Granada, ESP | |
| European Championships | ||||
| 3 | Singles - Class 3 | 2023 | Sheffield, GBR | |
| 5 | Doubles XD7 X | 2023 | Sheffield, GBR | |
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