Darko Duric

Dare (paralympic.org, 24 Mar 2015)

Reading, watching films, going to concerts, travelling. (Facebook page, 28 Sep 2020; Athlete, 14 Aug 2018)

Winning gold in the S4 100m freestyle at the 2013 World Championships in Montreal, QC, Canada, and competing at the Paralympic Games in 2012 and 2016. (Athlete, 14 Aug 2018)

Coach Jana Cander, and his family. (Athlete, 14 Aug 2018)

Slovenian Para athlete Dejan Fabcic. (Athlete, 14 Aug 2018)

In 2019 he sustained a shoulder injury. (govorise.metropolitan.si, 19 Oct 2019; siol.net, 11 Sep 2019)

"If I don't listen to music before I race, I don't feel good." (Athlete, 08 Feb 2012)

"Nothing can beat hard work and spirit. As long as you are able to stay motivated to give it everything, there will always be a chance for you to win. The biggest challenge will always be competing against yourself." (paralympic.org, 22 Dec 2014)

He received a 2016 Special Merit award from his club Plavalni Klub Radovljica. (plavalniklub-radovljica.si, 01 Apr 2017)

In 2013 he was presented with the Bloudek Award, the most prestigious Slovenian national sports honour awarded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport in Slovenia. (mizs.gov.si, 2014)

He was named the 2013 Athlete with Impairment of the Year in Slovenia. (Facebook page, 09 Jul 2018)

He was named MMC TV's 2012 Sports Personality of Year in Slovenia. (rtvslo.si, 31 Dec 2012)

He has represented Slovenia in sitting volleyball at youth level. (delo.si, 29 Dec 2019; Athlete, 08 Feb 2012)

He was born without his left arm and both legs. (Athlete, 18 Sep 2016)

RETIREMENT
In May 2020 he announced his retirement from competitive swimming due to motivational issues and the one-year postponement of the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. "We set the 2020 season well, but unfortunately it was hit by a pandemic and a two-month absence from the pool. Uncertainties about the new season, and above all the desire for new challenges where I can progress more, led me to the decision to hang up my competitive swimsuit and leave my place to young swimmers who, I believe, are eager to prove themselves." (Instagram profile, 03 Jun 2020, 16 May 2020; si.aleteia.org, 03 Jun 2020)

MOVE TO NETHERLANDS
In November 2017 he relocated to Amersfoort, Netherlands, for one year to train alongside the Dutch Para swimming team. "I didn't have bad training conditions in Slovenia, I got everything that I needed, the only thing I was missing was company. For me, this new chapter is very important. I am very happy that I have the opportunity to train with the Dutch Paralympic team for a year. This kind of opportunity comes along very rarely." (zurnal24.si, 31 Dec 2017)

EARLY LIFE
At age two he was adopted by the Debeljak family after his biological mother decided that she was not able to raise him. "My parents didn't leave me, they just gave me a second chance. I never had the feeling that I am not from the Debeljak family, they gave me a sense of belonging." (delo.si, 29 Dec 2019; rejniskodrustvoslovenije.si, 20 Nov 2017)