POLINA DJUROVA Vice-champion in Paralympic games in Atlanta – 1996 Silver and bronze medalist in European Swimming Cup - 2004

POLINA DJUROVAPOLINA DJUROVA

Vice-champion in Paralympic Vice-champion in Paralympic games in Atlanta – 1996games in Atlanta – 1996

Silver and bronze medalist in Silver and bronze medalist in European Swimming Cup - European Swimming Cup -

20042004


• For Poli’s family sport is tradition.For Poli’s family sport is tradition.

• Her parents has been elite athletes, Her parents has been elite athletes, national and Balkans record-holders national and Balkans record-holders and champions. Her older brother is and champions. Her older brother is also athlete.also athlete.

• Poli’s first memories are from Poli’s first memories are from stadiums and sports halls.stadiums and sports halls.


• She began to swim in very early ages.She began to swim in very early ages.• Later without leaving swimming she Later without leaving swimming she

started practicing athletics – high jump.started practicing athletics – high jump.• She demonstrated very good sports She demonstrated very good sports

achievement and excellent results in achievement and excellent results in school and enter a Sports College.school and enter a Sports College.

• Everything have been perfect till the car Everything have been perfect till the car accident when she was 15 years old.accident when she was 15 years old.


• She was 15 days in coma, long She was 15 days in coma, long months in the hospital, two years in months in the hospital, two years in bed fighting for life. bed fighting for life.

• Because of the brain injury she had Because of the brain injury she had to remain in wheelchair for her all to remain in wheelchair for her all left life.left life.

• Her existence was broken up into Her existence was broken up into “before” and “after”. “before” and “after”.


• From “Before” – she did not remember From “Before” – she did not remember a lot.a lot.

• ““After” – she could not speak, write, After” – she could not speak, write, walk.walk.

• Treatment courses - in Czech Republic, Treatment courses - in Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, USA. In Bulgaria – Germany, Hungary, USA. In Bulgaria – everywhere. The results – nearly any.everywhere. The results – nearly any.

• The only sticked in her dreams, day-The only sticked in her dreams, day-dieams, toughs was sport.dieams, toughs was sport.


• Very long time she had a lot a difficulties Very long time she had a lot a difficulties even entering a swimming pool. She had even entering a swimming pool. She had to almost crawling from the wheelchair. In to almost crawling from the wheelchair. In water she started again to feel the water she started again to feel the freedom and the pleasure of motion. freedom and the pleasure of motion.

• Something more – in water she felt better Something more – in water she felt better than others. than others.

• It took months, seasons, years, also pains, It took months, seasons, years, also pains, anger, tears. anger, tears.

POLINA DJUROVAPOLINA DJUROVA• In 1995 - 8 years later in Sofia she In 1995 - 8 years later in Sofia she

was again the first one, the best in was again the first one, the best in the competition of disabled.the competition of disabled.

• After that she decided to participate After that she decided to participate in European Swimming in European Swimming Championship in France. Her first Championship in France. Her first coach and masseur was her father.coach and masseur was her father.

• In France Poli finished first, but she In France Poli finished first, but she was declassed, because of the “small was declassed, because of the “small mistake”.mistake”.


• In the same competition she received In the same competition she received her class – S6.her class – S6.

• 1996 - participate in European 1996 - participate in European Special Olympics Games in Athens.Special Olympics Games in Athens.


• 1996 – Paralympic games in Atlanta. 1996 – Paralympic games in Atlanta.

She was prepared competing only in She was prepared competing only in the best her discipline – 100m. the best her discipline – 100m. backstroke. backstroke.

She won there a silver medal. She won there a silver medal.

• The atmosphere during the Games The atmosphere during the Games and Olympic maxim induced Poli to and Olympic maxim induced Poli to participate in some other swimming participate in some other swimming disciplines. disciplines.


• Before Paralympic Games in Sidney Before Paralympic Games in Sidney Poli lived in USA with her mother.Poli lived in USA with her mother.

• She went in Sidney without taken She went in Sidney without taken part in international competitions in part in international competitions in Europe.Europe.

Bulgarian delegation asked a wild Bulgarian delegation asked a wild card for her, but she did not receive card for her, but she did not receive it. it.


• In 2001 she entered a Sports Faculty In 2001 she entered a Sports Faculty at National Sports Academy - Sofia. at National Sports Academy - Sofia. Her specialization is swimming.Her specialization is swimming.

• Now she is in third year. Sometimes Now she is in third year. Sometimes Poli meets difficulties in her studies, Poli meets difficulties in her studies, but she is working very hard, she pass but she is working very hard, she pass successfully all exams and everybody successfully all exams and everybody in Academy respects this lovely girl.in Academy respects this lovely girl.


• In last 5 years the best Bulgarian In last 5 years the best Bulgarian swimmers and trainers are in NSA`s swimmers and trainers are in NSA`s Sports Club.Sports Club.

• It was a big chance for Poli to have a It was a big chance for Poli to have a trainer, prepared the best Bulgarian trainer, prepared the best Bulgarian swimmer, we have ever had – twice swimmer, we have ever had – twice Olympian champion – Tanja Olympian champion – Tanja Bogomilova.Bogomilova.

• The results came soon:The results came soon:

POLINA DJUROVAPOLINA DJUROVA• 2003 – European Cup in Brno, Czech 2003 – European Cup in Brno, Czech

Republic.Republic.

Poli is the only representative of Poli is the only representative of Bulgaria. She won:Bulgaria. She won:

• Silver medal - 100m. backstrokeSilver medal - 100m. backstroke

• Bronze medal - 100m. freestyleBronze medal - 100m. freestyle

• Bronze medal – 50m. freestyleBronze medal – 50m. freestyle

• Bronze medal – 50m. butterflyBronze medal – 50m. butterfly

POLINA DJUROVAPOLINA DJUROVAAt the same competition she was so At the same competition she was so impressive, that they decided to change impressive, that they decided to change her class. her class.

• She was laid in S7.She was laid in S7.It is important to note some facts:It is important to note some facts:– For athletes with brain injuries is used For athletes with brain injuries is used

classification rules for CP (CP-ISRA classification rules for CP (CP-ISRA classification), because both conditions classification), because both conditions are non-progressive impairments of are non-progressive impairments of central nerve system.central nerve system.

– According the same classification, According the same classification, improvement of sports techniques and improvement of sports techniques and results are not the reason of changing results are not the reason of changing the classes.the classes.


• Do somebody believe that Polina's Do somebody believe that Polina's neurological status is changed in a neurological status is changed in a period between eight and sixteenth period between eight and sixteenth year after the incidence?year after the incidence?

• 2003 – a difficult surgical 2003 – a difficult surgical intervention, because of joint intervention, because of joint instability of paretic leg, with long instability of paretic leg, with long period of recovery. period of recovery.

POLINA DJUROVAPOLINA DJUROVA• 2004 – Poli trained a lot for 2004 – Poli trained a lot for

Paralympic Games.Paralympic Games.

• Two months before Games, she left Two months before Games, she left without trainer. He understood that without trainer. He understood that in the new class Poli could not win.in the new class Poli could not win.

• She finded another trainer and She finded another trainer and persisted working, but this did not persisted working, but this did not help her.help her.


• She had to participate in 5 swimming She had to participate in 5 swimming discipline in a new class. It was a big discipline in a new class. It was a big stress for her.stress for her.

• She did not enter any final. She was She did not enter any final. She was declassed in one discipline, because declassed in one discipline, because she missed to touch the wall with she missed to touch the wall with both hands.both hands.

• Her presentation is defined in Sofia Her presentation is defined in Sofia as unsatisfactory.as unsatisfactory.


• Now she is not angry. Now she is not angry.

• She is only achamed of her bad She is only achamed of her bad results, and she is afraid about her results, and she is afraid about her future in the sport.future in the sport.

• Me, I am ashamed too, because she Me, I am ashamed too, because she is feeling like this. is feeling like this.

Documents

POLINA DJUROVA Vice-champion in Paralympic games in Atlanta – 1996 Silver and bronze medalist in European Swimming Cup - 2004