My message to other people with disabilities would be to never give up no matter how hard it is and to try to find something that will make them happy and fulfill their life, says Deni
Deni Černi was born on May 3, 1993 in Virovitica, and he is a computer technician by profession.
– At the age of six, I fell ill with dystonia, and I spent a large part of my childhood in hospitals for various examinations – Deni tells us.
It was not easy to accept a lifelong disability.
– In the beginning, it was really difficult to deal with disability and the fact that you are ‘different’, but luckily, I had my parents behind me, who explained to me very well that being a disabled person is nothing unusual and that in some situations it will be more difficult for me than some people of my age, but to never give up – says Černi.
– During my primary and secondary education, I had problems with the stares of ‘curious’ people who don’t know me, but I quickly got used to it since I have a good attitude and I approach every person in a friendly way – continues Deni.
His love for athletics was born in his teenage years.
– At the age of 14, I received an invitation from Darko Kralj to ask if I would like to try training in athletics, and a desire arose in me and I immediately agreed. After the first practice, I liked the shot put and wanted to continue. As I trained, more and more competitions came, and thus additional motivation to be better and achieve more – he tells us, and today he really has a lot of medals, competitions and awards behind him.
World Junior Championships:
– 2009 Nottwil, Switzerland:
1st place, ball F54 6.63 meters
1st place, discus F54 20.70 meters
2nd place, javelin F54 13.65 meters
– 2010 Olomouc, Czech Republic:
1st place, javelin F54 15.15 meters
1st place discus F54 23.75 meters (world junior discus record in the F-54 category)
2nd place, ball F54 7.05 meters
European Junior Championship
– 2011 Brno, Czech Republic – gold and two silver medals F54: 1st place discus, 2nd places shot put and javelin
IWAS World Games:
– 2009 Bangalore, India – 5th place in discus throw F54
– 2011 Sarjah-Dubai, UAE – bronze medal in discus throw F54, 23.95 meters
– 2017 Lisbon, Portugal gold medal in shot put F33, 8.88 meters, bronze medal in discus throw F33, 20.50 meters
W.P.A. European championship:
– 2012 in Stadskanaal, Netherlands – 6th place in discus throw F54, 19.2 meters
– 2018 in Berlin, Germany – silver medal in shot put F33, 10.10 meters
– 2021 in Bydgoszcz, Poland – bronze medal in shot put F33, 10.42 meters
W.P.A. World Championship:
– 2013 – Lyon, France – 11th place in discus throw F54
– 2017 – London, UK – 7th place in shot put F33, 8.87 meters
– 2019 – Dubai, UAE – 5th place in shot put F33, 10.41 meters
Paralympic Games:
– 2021 – Tokyo, Japan – bronze medal in shot put (11.25 meters, personal record)
Recognitions and awards
2009 – Charter of the City of Grubišno Polje, public recognition of the City of Grubišno Polje
2010 – Plaque on November 4, 1991, public recognition of the City of Grubišno Polje
2011 – Tihomir Trnski plaque, public recognition of the Bjelovar-Bilogora County
2009 and 2010 – Golden plaque of the Sports Association of Bjelovar-Bilogora County for the best athlete with a disability in the junior competition
2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 – Golden plaque of the Sports Association of Bjelovar-Bilogora County for the best athlete with a disability in the senior competition
