DIMITRIJEVIC Zeljko

Classification
F51 (IPC, 07 Mar 2021)

Type of Impairment
Spinal Cord Injuries (Klub Sampiona YouTube channel, 03 Jun 2017)

Origin of Impairment
Acquired (Klub Sampiona YouTube channel, 03 Jun 2017)

Impairment Details
In June 1990 he dived into the River Mlava in Serbia and hit a rock. The injuries he sustained resulted in quadriplegia. (Klub Sampiona YouTube channel, 03 Jun 2017; slobodnaevropa.org, 02 Mar 2013)

General
PERSONAL LOSS
He was particularly affected when his teammate and fellow club thrower, Milos Mitic, died at age 30 in September 2018. "He was like a brother to me. We were together at so many events and so often we proudly listened to our anthem on the podium. During every major competition, I'm going to throw having him in my mind and heart. I have another reason to give my best now. Milos will be in my heart and in my every throw." (ZdravljeTV channel on YouTube, 08 Oct 2018)

RETIREMENT AND RETURN
He announced his retirement from the sport following his gold medal in the F51 club throw at the 2017 World Championships in London, England. "If I could choose how I want to end my career, I could not imagine a better way than this." He then decided to return to the sport a few months later. "I wanted to retire, but people persuaded me to continue training to claim more gold medals for Serbia." (novosti.rs, 19 Jul 2017; rtv.rs, 03 Apr 2018; alo.rs, 08 Mar 2018)

FAMILY
He was raised by his grandmother. "She is my angel in heaven who protects me and gives me strength. She was a great fighter and she taught me to fight. I couldn't give her all she deserved when she was alive, but now I dedicate everything I achieve to her." (TV Prva Exploziv, 24 Feb 2017)

He became the first Serbian athlete from any sport to win a gold medal at the Paralympic Games by claiming victory in the F31/32/51 club throw at the 2012 Games in London. (SportsDeskOnline, 07 Aug 2018; paralympic.org, 03 Feb 2014)