2024-07-27 01:03:18
The 29-year-old athlete will start in the Olympics only on August 2, but already on Thursday she flew from Lithuania to Paris.
The fact that participation in the Olympic Games is an exceptional event for I. Gumbs could be understood simply by watching her at the Vilnius airport.
Uteniškė could not stay still, her face was decorated with the widest smile of all people, which did not shrink even for a moment, and the athlete wore exclusive shoes decorated with the Lithuanian tricolor and Olympic rings.
“I feel very good. For several days, everything boils inside, I try to calm down. The excitement comes just thinking about the Olympics. This is a dream come true for all athletes. So I try to calm myself down, because I don’t want to burn out”, said I. Gumbs before the flight.
– What is the significance of participating in the opening ceremony?
– This is very important. I would like to wish everyone to set a goal and achieve it, think about it every day and eventually achieve it, and maybe you will feel what I feel right now. It really is a dream come true, not only for me, but also for my mother. She didn’t manage to go to the Games, she didn’t realize that she would be able to represent Lithuania, and now we are going together. A lot of fun.
– A week in France. What is your plan? Is it also related to tourist destinations? Is it just concentration on sports?
– We are traveling so early just because we really want to attend the opening ceremony. This is the most important thing about the Olympic Games. The preparation will go according to plan, we will try to stay in the room, we will rest, we will prepare. Everything is planned in minutes and we will definitely stick to the regime. It will be possible to tour after the competition.
– What personal goals have you set?
– The goals are to perform as well as possible. I would be very happy if I reached the final. This would be the icing on the cake. My goal this season was to get to the Olympics. I have already fulfilled this plan, I am going to the Olympic Games. It’s still kind of weird to think about. But whenever I go, I will take a picture near the Olympic rings, then it will be officially stamped that I am an Olympian.
– It seems that it is even difficult to stay still due to excitement. What would have to happen to get the same emotion back?
– I think in any case I will come back the same. Just qualifying for the Olympics is a very big event. Especially for track and field athletes. Only the top 32 athletes from around the world make it here. My husband has said “8 billion people in the world and only 32 make it to the Olympics”. The achievement is indeed very great and I will happily return in any way. Of course, I represent Lithuania and I want to perform as well as possible. I want not only me to be proud of myself, but also everyone around me.
2024-07-27 01:03:18