A Woman Was Born With No Arms, but She’s Learned How to Use Her Feet Instead to Take Care of Her Daughter and Enjoy Life

Meet Dejana Backo, an athlete and artist who has succeeded in both the sporting and artistic realms despite adversity. Backo is utilizing her position to inspire people and bring attention to issues related to disabilities while also spreading a powerful message of self-discovery and empowerment. Backo, however, has started a new chapter in her life as she recently became a mother, which has forced her to take a vacation from her favorite things.

She embraces her body the way it is.

The well-known Serbian athlete and artist Dejana Backo was born in Novi Sad on December 9, 1994. She was born without upper limbs, yet she has never allowed it to stop her from achieving her goals. She went on an inspirational path of self-discovery that helped her become a skilled athlete and artist.

Backo used to question her mother why she didn’t have arms when she was a child. But as she got older, she understood that her impairment didn’t define her or stop her from living a happy life. She has the same enthusiasm for life in her personal life. She is incredibly infatuated with her partner, a fitness instructor, and they both like traveling to new locations and posting about their experiences on social media.

At the tender age of nine, Backo became a member of the Society of Mouth and Foot Painters, which inspired her to further her artistic endeavors. After earning her degree from the Design Art School in 2014, she enrolled in Novi Sad’s Academy of Fine Arts. Backo has had solo exhibitions over the years in around 20 places in various Balkan countries.

Also known as the “girl with wings,” she has become a symbol of empowerment and perseverance in Serbia. Despite being born without arms, Backo has soared to new heights and achieved remarkable success in sports. Her impressive achievements include being a world champion in para taekwondo, a historic first for Serbia, which she won at the World Para Taekwondo Championship in Turkey in 2019.

She has now jumped to motherhood.

Dejana Backo achieved another important life milestone in February 2023 when she gave birth to her first child. She made the decision to take a vacation from competition in order to get ready for this historic occasion, which meant she would miss the Paralympic Games in Paris in 2024. She is aggressively promoting her message on social media even if she won’t be competing for a long.

Backo has always had a passion for art, but her interest in sports is relatively stronger. She was driven to switch to sports because she wanted to compete in the Paralympic Games. Back in 2016, Backo started practicing Para taekwondo, and she was able to win the K41 women’s −47 kg division. Way to go, Backo!

“We all have some difficulties as people with disabilities,” the athlete explained, candidly. “But if you have a good picture of yourself, if you know who you are and what your worth is and you act within that, you can pass all the negatives and focus on the positives.”

Backo admits that having a child will affect her athletic career. Her intention to take a vacation before resuming her training could have an impact on how well she performs physically. The mother, nevertheless, is sure she can get through any challenges that stand in her way.

Dejana Backo continues to use her platform to raise awareness and inspire others. Despite taking a break from competing, she is still actively engaging with her followers on social media. Her Instagram page is filled with inspiring stories, tips, and motivational messages that encourage people to overcome their challenges.

This is not the first time someone manages to raise kids without their limbs, since this father has also done it. And sometimes people lose their limb(s) due to shark attacks or even decide to lengthen their legs so they look taller.