Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic presented the National Paralympic Committee of Serbia with the country’s highest medal, Karadordeva zvezd, for representing Serbia and its citizens.

Serbia had its best ever finish at a Paralympic Games at Rio 2016, taking home nine medals including three golds.

President of the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) Zoran Micovic was present to receive the medal.

Micovic was re-elected during the NPC’s annual assembly in December, with Paralympic medallist Ruzica Nikolic Aleksov the other candidate up for the position.

In his letter on the NPC’s website, Micovic wrote that the goals of the NPC are “to better working conditions for elite athletes with a disability and athletes with disabilities in general, popularisation of the Paralympic Movement and informing the public about great achievements of our athletes.”

He added that his “experience of top athletes and managers in large sports organisations can significantly contribute to the improvement and promotion of the Paralympic Movement, and that we will fight Para athletes and sports in our society.”