Dusan Laczko

Started: He took up the sport in 2019 in Nove Zamky, Slovakia. (Athlete, 29 Aug 2021) Reason: "I told myself that I would live life to the fullest despite my impairment. I have found another meaning in life in sports." (smesirovni.sk, 2020) Ambition: To win a medal at the Paralympic Games. (Facebook page, 12 Jul 2023) Additional Info: LATE ENTRY INTO THE SPORT He was encouraged to take up Para sports by a nurse during his early rehabilitation in Kovacova, Slovakia. He doubted the idea and then spent time working in the police. He decided to begin Para athletics at age 36. "When I returned home [after rehabilitation], I put sports out of my mind. I started a family, my three children were born one after the other. But then I remembered the nurse from Kovacova, who told me that I could succeed in the shot put, given my physique. I studied everything, got some contacts, but due to my job, which required weekend work, I spent all my holidays training and competing. I had no coach, no one to encourage me in any way. I was quite lonely and didn't make the progress I thought I would. Sometimes, I think that if there had been a motivator by my side back then, maybe my sports career would have started earlier." (smesirovni.sk, 16 Mar 2022; netky.sk, 08 Oct 2021)