DEJANA BACKO: BEYOND ALL LIMITS AND EXPECTATIONS

The same feet Dejana Backo uses to hold a paintbrush also helped her become a world champion. Born in Serbia without arms, Dejana grew up adapting to the world in her own unique way. As a young child, she learned to complete daily tasks using her feet—from eating and writing to dressing herself. Yet, among all these daily skills, one particular activity quickly transformed into a lifelong passion: painting.

She began drawing at a very early age, carefully holding brushes between her toes. By the time she was nine years old, her talent earned her a place in an international association for artists who paint using their mouths or feet. Painting was no longer just a hobby; it was becoming her lifelong calling.

Her journey, however, was far from easy. When Dejana sought to pursue formal artistic training, critics doubted her capabilities. She was once told she could not attend an art academy simply because she could not open doors independently. Later, skeptics questioned her ability to complete complex tasks, such as mosaic assignments. Refusing to let doubts define her path, Dejana completed every requirement and successfully earned her degree in painting from the prestigious Academy of Arts in Novi Sad.

In 2016, she decided to challenge herself further by taking up para taekwondo. Her natural determination translated seamlessly into athletics. Within just a few years of training, she was competing on the world stage, ultimately becoming a world champion in 2019 and repeating the extraordinary feat in 2021.

While she also explored para archery, art remained her ultimate love. She has always viewed herself fundamentally as an artist who simply happens to excel at sports. In 2023, she entered another rewarding chapter of life by becoming a mother, choosing to step back from competitive athletics to focus on her daughter, family, and artwork.

People often notice her physical differences first, but her remarkable life offers far more inspiring stories to share. She is an accomplished artist, an academy graduate, a two-time world champion, and a devoted mother. Which of her extraordinary achievements inspires you the most: mastering the fine art of painting with her feet, or reaching the top of the world in martial arts?