Rio Paralympics 2016: Croatia Wins Medal on Opening Day
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
Velimir Šandor wins a medal on the opening day of the Rio Paralympics (photo credit: Reuters)
Croatia wins a medal on the opening day of the Rio Paralympics 2016…
The 15th Paralympics got underway today in Rio de Janerio and Croatia already has a medal. Velimir Šandor has won the bronze medal in the discus event on Thursday. The medal brings Croatia’s total medal tally since 1992 to 15.
Šandor, who was left in a wheelchair after a car accident over 10 years ago, won bronze with a throw of 18.24 metres. Latvian Aigars Apinis won gold with a throw of 20.83, whilst silver went to Poland’s Robert Jachimowicz who threw 19.10 metres.
“I am very happy, this is my first Paralympics and I win a medal straight away. I hoped that before the start of the competition I would get bronze and I done it”, 30-year-old Šandor, who hails from Opatija, said after the event.
Velimir with his bronze medal (photo credit: @Paraolimpijac)
Croatia first took part in the Paralympics in 1992 in Barcelona and now have won 3 gold, 3 silver and 9 bronze medals since then. Croatia’s team in Rio is made up of 19 athletes.
