Award jury

She has won five Paralympic medals, including gold in Sydney, as well as 17 medals from the World and European Table Tennis Championships. Instead of keeping her Paralympic medals, she gives them away to those who have helped her compete. Alena Kánová is a mother of two daughters. Nina is ten years old and Anna is seven.

She studied at the Faculty of Law at Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia. She has a doctorate in law and diplomacy. She has worked as a lawyer for a renowned foreign company, as well as for the Slovak ministries of education and foreign affairs, and several non-governmental organisations for the physically disabled.

She was a long-term member of the executive committee of the Slovak Paralympic Committee and represents it on several funds and boards. She has also been a member of the Para TT Committee and the ITTF Athletes Committee for over 12 years.

Since her injury at the age of 14, she has been wheelchair-bound. Sport has become an everyday part of her life and has had a significant impact on it.  As well as meeting a number of great and interesting people all over the world, sport has taught her patience and discipline and has encouraged her not to give up. It has also fostered her empathy and dedication.

She performed the oath and was Slovakia’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.

Her work with young people in the Paralympic movement is a great example of fair play and mutual help.

She has been a member of the jury of the European Fair Play Movement since 2021.