Edna Šunjić’s journey started at the Sport Games Oaza, where she finished one of her earliest swimming races with joy and determination. It was one of many moments that marked the beginning of a life filled with sport, creativity, and leadership. From swimming to skiing to table tennis, Edna has always embraced movement and challenge, discovering new strengths with every experience.
On the snowy slopes, guided by her coach Adnan, she found not only a love of skiing but the confidence that comes from mastering something new. That confidence carried her all the way to the world stage. In 2017, she traveled to Austria to compete in the Special Olympics World Winter Games, returning home a two-time gold medalist. Her achievements filled her community with pride and inspired many who followed her story.
Her journey didn’t stop at athletics. Edna has been active her entire life, not just in sports, but also in activism, leadership, music, and acting. She has always shared her voice, her talent, and her warmth with those around her. Whether training with her Unified Partner Aldina or representing her country at the 2019 Global Youth Leadership Summit in Abu Dhabi, Edna continues to show how sport can bring people together and spark meaningful change.
Her advocacy grew even stronger in the years that followed. She spoke on national television about her path from athlete to leader, joined the Global Athletes Congress in Berlin in 2023, and worked closely with her mentor Sanja to help shape the future of athlete leadership worldwide. Wherever she goes, Edna brings honesty, kindness, and a deep sense of purpose.
In 2025, she added another milestone at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, placing second and fifth in her events and once again making Bosnia and Herzegovina proud. Before her departure, her community gathered to celebrate her achievements and cheer her on, a reflection of the incredible support system that has been with her since the beginning. Her family, friends, sport clubs, teachers, and both her elementary and high schools have played a foundational role in her success.
Today, Edna continues to build her future with the same determination that has guided her for years. She is currently studying at the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies at the University, pursuing new opportunities for growth. And most notably, she now works with the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sport becoming the first person with disabilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to be employed there, a historic step toward greater inclusion.
From her first swim at Oaza to breaking barriers in sport, leadership, education, and government, Edna’s story is one of perseverance, possibility, and the transformative power of inclusion. Her journey reminds us that with belief, opportunity, and support, every dream is within reach.
