Paović competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics, reaching the second round of the singles competition. She also competed in the team competition. On 30 January 2009 Sandra suffered serous injuries in a traffic accident in France which put an end to her career as a professional table tennis player. After her recovery, she started competing in contests for table tennis players with disabilities.
She won the gold at the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. This was Croatia's first gold medal at those Paralympics and the fourth Paralympic gold in the country's history.
President Milanović held a reception for this courageous woman, who has had many trials and tribulations since her childhood, when she was a refugee from Vukovar, on the occasion of the launch of her second book, titled "Volim Život ("I Love Life" in an unofficial translation").
The book is about the inspiring life and struggle of Paović, who after her sporting career has become a motivational speaker.