January 3, 2021 -  Toni Bosnjakovic, a 35-year-old Croatian Paralympian, is on the ground repairing Petrinja earthquake damage.

Croatian Paralympian Toni Bosnjakovic is currently in Petrinja, where he is helping to repair the damage in the city as a volunteer. 

Gol.hr reports that 35-year-old Toni Bosnjakovic was in a serious accident six years ago. Namely, Toni fell under a train and was left without the lower part of both legs. But that wasn't going to stop him from succeeding. In his 30s, he discovered the possibilities he had in sport.

"And what's your excuse for not going to help?"

"I immediately realized that I would have to train for rehabilitation to get back to normal life as soon as possible. Then I started thinking about competing. Then, when I started competing, I said why not as I was already training. Then it became a habit, and today, I can't imagine life without sports," Toni told Dnevnik Nova TV.

"I will no longer go as a lizard but as an experienced Paralympian."

He started with summer sports, triathlons, and athletics, but his love for the snow was greater.

"I was asked in some amazing ways to do Paralympic shooting, but the training, held at the other end of town, was too far away. However, I didn't want to give up. And then the idea came to mind - parabiathlon."

Toni's story was created by the synergy of the Paralympic Committee, the Paralympic Skiing Federation and the Biathlon Federation.

Two years ago, he competed in Nordic running at the Winter Olympics.

"The experience I gained there is invaluable; it can't be bought with money, I saw my competitors. I've seen what it looks like first hand. I won't go there more as a lizard than as an experienced Paralympian."

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

For more on the Petrinja earthquake and to see how you can donate money, food, humanitarian, sanitary and material aid, follow our dedicated section.

Skier Lovro Dokić and Nordic skier Antun Toni Bošnjaković are set to travel to the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang after an invitation by the International Paralympics Committee. But behind this news item are human stories and entire movie scripts