At the Winter Paralympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Croatia is represented by a small but determined team of five athletes, including two young skiers, 21-year-old Lucija Smetiško and 22-year-old Karla Kordić, who are eagerly anticipating their competitions. This is Kordić's first Paralympic Games, while Smetiško previously competed in Beijing four years ago, where she finished fifth in the slalom as a 17-year-old.

Karla Kordić, a third-year physiotherapy student at the Health Polytechnical College in Zagreb, competes in the visually impaired category, aided by her guide Iva Hršak, who provides real-time instructions through a Bluetooth system integrated into her helmet. Kordić expresses her excitement about the atmosphere in the Paralympic village, noting that she has met athletes from many countries and is pleasantly surprised by the entire experience, including various recreational offerings such as karaoke available to athletes in the village.

Overall, the Croatian athletes embody a spirit of resilience and camaraderie as they prepare to showcase their talents on a global stage. The engagement of young athletes like Kordić and Smetiško highlights the importance of inclusivity in sports, as they aim for success while inspiring others with disabilities around the world to pursue their sporting dreams.