Peachtree Corners Athlete Wins 'Triumph Of The Human Spirit' Award

PEACHTREE CORNERS, GA — A young woman from Peachtree Corners was among those honored this past weekend for changing lives — their own and others — through adaptive and Paraylmpic sports.

Polina Bondarenko was one of 20 individuals recognized at BlazeSports America's annual Triumph of the Human Spirit Awards held at Primerica headquarters in Duluth.

The event recognized 20 people from across the state for their work changing the lives of children and adults with physical disabilities through adaptive and Paralympic sport.

Winners included athletes, coaches and volunteers from across the Atlanta area and ages ranging from teens to adults.

Born with disabilities in Russia, Bondarenko was placed in an orphanage and experienced a difficult childhood before being adopted by an American family and brought to the Atlanta area.

Once here, she found a love for archery and wheelchair basketball, and currently plays both for BlazeSports.

In 2016, Polina's adoptive mother donated a kidney to her. The transplant surgery was a success and she's now back to playing the sports she loves.

"Triumph of the Human Spirit" was adopted as the motto for the 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta, the same year BlazeSports America was created as the legacy organization of the Games.

Photo courtesy BlazeSports