The women medallists of the Olympic Games were honoured on Thursday, on the occasion of the upcoming International Women’s Day and the centenary of the Olympic movement in Lithuania. They were congratulated by President Gitanas Nausėda and First Lady Diana Nausėdienė. The athletes were also presented with a commemorative limited edition book featuring the Baltic Olympic medallists.

“On the occasion of the centenary of the Olympic movement in Lithuania, we have gathered here to pay tribute to special women, the medallists of the Olympic Games. I sincerely thank the Olympic community for this beautiful initiative and for the extraordinary opportunity to congratulate the women ‒ our legends and extraordinary personalities ‒ who have immortalised the name of Lithuania in the history of world sports.

In this book, the three Baltic states are featuring together again. Side by side. Just like then, on the Baltic Way. Demonstrating unprecedented power expressed by their glorious victories and their spiritual strength. In Lithuania, sport has always been a factor that mobilises our nation, which has helped us achieve our freedom we had longed for. You have helped to raise and strengthen the nation’s patriotism, to develop the spirit of the fighter and the winner.

Dear athletes, with the story of your victories, you have immortalized women’s strength of will, power and talent. Thank you for strengthening our society and the state with your personality power and professionalism,“ First Lady Diana Nausėdienė said.

D. Nausėdienė (V. Dranginio nuotr.).

Lithuania made its Olympic debut in 1924. It is symbolic that 100 years ago, just like this year, the event was held in the French capital Paris. Since then, as many as 24 Lithuanian female athletes have won Olympic medals.

“Women are strong, ambitious and inspiring in sports, and this year there will be as many female athletes as there will be men at the Paris Olympics. Gender equality and women’s encouragement to aspire not only for results in sport but also for top positions in sports organizations is one of the strategic goals of the Olympic movement, which we are pursuing in a targeted way.

I am delighted to see my colleagues here, who pursued their goals with determination and today serve as an inspiration for young female athletes.

We are sincerely grateful to First Lady Diana for her invitation, friendship and attention to the Olympic movement,“ Daina Gudzinevičiūtė, Olympic champion, President of the National Olympic Committee of Lithuania (LNOC), said.

D. Gudzinevičiūtė (V. Dranginio nuotr.).

The achievements of Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian athletes were eternalised in the limited-edition book Baltic Women on the Olympic Games Awards Podium. First Lady Diana Nausėdienė and LNOC President presented to each of the Olympic medallists gathered at the President’s Office with a book which was dedicated personally to them, and with a special medal of the Olympic centenary in Lithuania.

The event was attended by:

Participant of two Olympic Games and a two-time Olympic champion Angelė Rupšienė. The legendary basketball player won gold medals in 1976 in Montreal and in 1980 in Moscow.

The 1980 Moscow Olympic Games champion swimmer Lina Kačiušytė.

Cross-country skier Vida Vencienė, who competed in three Olympic Games, and won gold and bronze medals in Calgary in 1988.

Participant of two Olympic Games, a bronze medallist of the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, cyclist Laima Zilporytė.

Participant of two Olympic Games, a bronze medallist of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, rower Kristina Poplavskaya.

Participant of two Olympic Games, a bronze medallist of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, rower Birutė Šakickienė.

Participant of four Olympic Games, the Vice-Champion of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, bronze medallist of the 2012 London Olympics in track and field athletics Austra Skujytė.

Participant of two Olympic Games, the bronze medallist of the 2016 Rio Olympics, rower Milda Valčiukaitė.

Daina Gudzinevičiūtė, who competed in five Olympic Games and won gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, presented the First Lady with a book signed by the Olympic medallists.