Ivan Mikulić has been named as Croatia's male Paralympic athlete of the year for 2021 ©Getty Images

Taekwondo's Ivan Mikulić has been named as Croatia's male Paralympic athlete of the year for 2021.

The 2015 world champion won a silver medal in the men's over-75 kilograms division as taekwondo debuted on the Paralympic sports programme at Tokyo 2020.

He was beaten to gold by Asghar Aziziaghdam of Iran, and also won silver at the 2021 World Championships in Turkey.

On this occasion he lost in the final to another Iranian, Hamed Haghshenas. 

Ivan Mikulić lost to two different Iranians in major finals in 2021, including Asghar Aziziaghdam in the Paralympic gold medal bout ©Getty Images
Ivan Mikulić lost to two different Iranians in major finals in 2021, including Asghar Aziziaghdam in the Paralympic gold medal bout ©Getty Images

Mikulić also won the award in 2017 and his coach Mladen Tomic was named as Croatia's most successful professional employee.

The 27-year-old has won three European titles in his career, and has reached world number one. 

"Everyone was with me and they all have their share in those silver medals," Mikulić said.