:: BASKETBALL YEARS
:: GAME TIME
Ivana’s love and passion for basketball was recognized in the early age, when she has been the youngest player in history of 1st Slovak women league playing regularly in the base five.
Loving the game, with number five on her chest and nickname Senda, Ivana has attracted attention also of the National team coach.
Game time!
In 1996 she was invited to a national team and ever since, she has been captain of Slovak Junior Women’s team, where her leadership talent was first time in action. Youth Olympic Games in Moscow 1998, European Championships 2000 in Poland were just few highlights of her heart’s affair with basketball.
:: SCHOOL TIME – HIGH SCHOOL & UNIVERSITY
Ivana was excelling also out of the court and her first eight years in elementary school were marked with result “All 1s.” (Note: Grade 1 is equivalent to the grade A in U.S. educational system).
High school years were very challenging for her, whereas she has joined class with specialization on mathematics and physics, while she was still maintaining highly dedicated athlete profile. Being out of the most class entertainment, strict time management, dealing with responsible lifestyle made her a bit “outcast”, but she was convinced what her true bliss is and was sure to manage both, school and basketball. Four years of sweat ended with final exam, on which she was supposed to be preparing like her classmates at home for 7 days, but instead of that she was leading the national team during intensive preparation camp.
Little me #5 with National Team on European Championships, 2000
Ivana has skipped last tournament before European Championship in France, to take part on entrance exams to the best Slovak business school, Faculty of Management at Comenius University in Bratislava. Few days after her 18th birthday, she has passed the Mathematics and English test successfully. So, her challenging high school times served her well!
In September 2000, Ivana has moved to the capital city of Slovakia, Bratislava, to join university as well as her new basketball club. Being part of the first league team, meant practice two times a day, plus being a full time student along with it, was extremely tough.
On 2nd February 2002, she has made, the most heart breaking decision. She quit playing basketball, to pursue her studies. She has finished her basketball story in grand style, with amazing performance against team, which won European Champions League several years in a row. Her final autographs as Senda5 were given away after game against team from Ruzomberok.
Basketball memories are captured at the picture and kept on the shelf of her room in Poprad 
(part three is next)
Impressive. I guess this is your love of Sport that created a very positive approach towards the life. Very few people have this talent that you possess. God Bless. Keep it up Ivi. :O)