Lucia Talarcikova

Lucia from Slovakia, is a shining example of courage, perseverance, and determination. She joined Special Olympics Slovakia in 2021, inspired by the Slovakian Unified Table Tennis gold medalists at the 2019 World Games in Abu Dhabi. Despite facing challenges such as an intellectual disability, ADHD, chronic asthma, and developmental dysphasia, she never lets obstacles stand in the way of her dreams. Passionate about sport from an early age, Lucia has trained in cycling, swimming, tennis, skiing, and archery—often alongside athletes without disabilities. She has won multiple medals, including gold in the 10 km cycling event at the 2023 World Games in Berlin and bronze in cross-country skiing at the World Winter Games in Turin. With support from her family and the Special Olympics community, she continues to grow in confidence and looks forward to competing in the Special Olympics European Triathlon Championship.