DIMITRIJEVIC Zeljko

4 Jan 1971
50
Male
F51
PETROVAC NA MLAVI
 
Serbia
BELGRADE
 
Serbia

Events and Medals

Discipline Event Rank Medal
ATH Athletics Men's Club Throw - F51 2 Silver Medal

Schedule

Change
Start Time Location Event Status
Olympic Stadium - Seated Discus/Club
Finished

Biographical Information

Highlights

:
RankEventYearLocationResult
Paralympic Games
1Club Throw - F512016Rio de Janeiro, BRA29.96
1Men's Club Throw F31/32/512012London, GBR26.88
World Championships
1Club Throw - F512019Dubai, UAE33.82
1Club Throw - F512017London, GBR31.99
1Club Throw - F512015Doha, QAT26.29
European Championships
1Club Throw - F512021Bydgoszcz, POL34.71
1Club Throw - F512018Berlin, GER32.23
:
Watching films and sport on television. (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)
:
Athlete, Coach
:
Coaching - University of Nis, Serbia
:
Serbian
:
AK Pogledi [Belgrade, SRB]
:
Jovan Dovric, SRB, from 2019
:
2012 for Serbia (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)
:
He took up Para athletics in 1997 in Belgrade, Serbia. (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)
:
He played football before his accident, then took up Para sport to remain active and as a form of recreation. His talent was noticed by coach Vlastimir Golubovic. (b92.net, 26 Aug 2016; Athlete, 23 Oct 2015)
:
To win a gold medal at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (sportklub.rs, 31 Dec 2019)
:
Winning gold in club throw at the Paralympic Games in 2012 and 2016. (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)
:
Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, Serbian Para athlete Drazenko Mitrovic. (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)
:
Serbian Para athlete Drazenko Mitrovic. (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)
:
"The most important thing is will. Don't give up, always use the words, 'I can, I want, I wish'. There is no going back." (sportklub.rs, 31 Dec 2019)
:
He was Serbia's flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the 2018 European Championships in Berlin, Germany. (IPC, 20 Aug 2018)

In 2015 and 2016 he was named the Best Male Para Athlete in Belgrade, Serbia. (Klub Sampiona YouTube channel, 03 Jun 2017; sportskisavezbeograda.org.rs, 25 Dec 2015)

In 2012, 2015, and 2017 he was named Male Athlete of the Year by the Paralympic Committee of Serbia [PKS]. (b92.net, 26 Aug 2016; novosti.rs, 06 Feb 2013; blic.rs, 01 Mar 2018)

In 2012 he was presented with the Majska Nagrada award, the most prestigious honour given by the Sports Association of Serbia. (b92.net, 26 Aug 2016)

General Interest

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)

Legend
:
Silver Medal
:
Gold Medal Event
:
Silver Medal Event
:
Bronze Medal Event
Timing and scoring provided by OMEGA. Results powered by Atos