TADIC Ilija

Classification
S9, SB9, SM9 (IPC, 08 Mar 2021)

Type of Impairment
Limb deficiency (Athlete, 14 Aug 2018)

Origin of Impairment
Congenital (Athlete, 14 Aug 2018)

Impairment Details
He is missing his left arm below the elbow. (Athlete, 14 Aug 2018)

General
US SCHOLARSHIP
In April 2020 he accepted a swimming scholarship at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, United States of America. "I received a full scholarship that covers the costs of tuition and a stay in a boarding school. I am extremely happy. Currently [speaking in 2020] there is only one Para swimmer [competing at university level] in the US at Rice University, but that situation is slowly changing. Last year the National Collegiate Athletic Association [NCAA] formed a working group to gradually integrate Para athletes into the competition programme in athletics and swimming. In that way it will be possible for Para athletes to get the opportunity to train and study at the highest level." (vijesti.me, 18 Apr 2020)

YOUTH SWIMMING
He says young Para swimmers should not be prevented from training with swimmers without impairments. "I would recommend to all coaches that train Para athletes to put them in the same group as kids without disabilities. The kids with disabilities are motivated when they swim with kids without disabilities and have that impetus around them. Young Para athletes should start training early, swimming isn't a sport you can start at the age of 15 or 16." (Para Coach Facebook page, 29 Jul 2020)