Mayor Muzur hosted and awarded para-swimming champions Ismail Barlov and Ismail Zulfić

(Patria) - Mayor of Ilidža Municipality Nermin Muzur today hosted two members of PK Spid, Ismail Barlov and Ismail Zulfić, their parents and coach Amel Kapo.

At the World Para-swimming Championship recently held in Manchester, Barlov won a brilliant fourth place in the SB2 class, in the 50-meter breaststroke discipline. The achieved result (1:08.77) was enough for the 12-year-old Barlov to secure the norm for participation in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

Ismail Zulfić also had a notable performance at the World Championship. Our "butterfly without wings" finished the 50-meter butterfly discipline in ninth place.

Mayor Muzur presented the two Spid swimmers with symbolic gifts and monetary rewards as an incentive for even better results in the future.

"Ismail Barlov won a brilliant fourth place and, at just 12 years old, secured the norm for participation in the 2024 Paralympic Games, which is said to be a unique case in the world, and along with the fantastic Lana Pudar, he is the only BiH athlete with a "visa" for Paris 2024. Our desire is to support our Ilidža resident on this path, just like his clubmate Ismail Zulfić.

Although their participation in Manchester was their debut at the World Championship, the two Ismails were not unknown. Their rivals, current world and Paralympic champions, also wanted joint photos with them, and commentators were delighted with their performances even though they did not finish on the podium.

"We are convinced that both members of PK Spid will excel in major competitions such as world championships and the Paralympic Games in the future, and we will strive to support them as much as possible," Muzur said.

PK Spid coach, Amel Kapo, thanked the mayor for the reception, his time, and the awards, but most of all for the attention given to our two young and talented para-swimmers.

"We thank the municipal mayor Nermin Muzur for today's invitation and gathering with our champions, and for recognizing and rewarding the top results they are achieving. We are particularly pleased that the local community has recognized the importance of sport and that sport is the right of every person, because Ismail Barlov is a child from the municipality of Ilidža, and he has achieved a world-class result. At only twelve years old, he has two A norms for the Paralympic Games to be held next year in Paris. He is a world-class athlete, and he is ours," said coach Kapo.