The delegation is modest but proud. Nine representatives of the Lithuanian Paralympic team are ready to storm Paris, where they will pursue their dreams with their heads held high and their hearts burning. It was in this mood on August 26. part of the athletes of the country’s delegation went to the tenth jubilee Paralympic Games of Independent Lithuania.
Lithuania will be represented at the Paralympics in Paris by light athletes Aušra Garunkšnytė, Oksana Dobrovolskaja, Eivydė Vainauskaitė, Andrius Skuja and Donatas Dundzys, swimmers Gabrielė Čepavičiūtė and Edgaras Matakas, judo wrestler Osvaldas Bareikis and shooter Raimeda Bučinskytė.
Swimmer E. Matakas in 2021 won a bronze medal at the Paralympics in Tokyo. Judo representative Osvaldas Bareikis won a similar award in Japan.
“We have been participating in the Paralympic Games as an independent Lithuania since 1992. We not only participate, but together we create a different, better, fairer world. First of all, this history is created by our athletes, but it is always important to remember that behind them stand coaches, relatives, supporters of good will and people who take care of organizational processes.
Wishing you victories and sporting achievements in the Paralympic Games, I thank you for your courage and determination in the sports arenas and in your everyday lives”, Gitanas Nausėda addressed the Lithuanian Paralympians gathered in the Hall of Columns of the Presidential Palace. The president revealed that he will go to the opening of the Paris Games to support our team.
“What we will see at the Paralympics will be a point in time, a moment until which many hopeful, joyful moments, failures and difficulties will be experienced. You want that moment to be as beautiful as possible. And while it may sometimes happen that bad luck steps in, it will never be the case that only luck guarantees the result. So the current result is participation in the Paralympic Games. I believe that the results that will please us soon are, above all, the results of your consistent work and perseverance. I wish you not only victories, but also warm personal impressions that you will take with you from this moment in time”, said Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė to the Paralympians.
The Olympic flag will be carried by the national team captain, athlete Donatas Dundzys and swimmer Gabrielė Čepavičiūtė at the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games in Paris.
“This is a great honor. I thought that carrying the Lithuanian flag is a symbol to show the world that Lithuania is not a big country, but there is a Paralympic sport and we have athletes. Of course, although the two of us will carry the flag, it represents all the people of Lithuania and shows the unity of all of us,” said 18-year-old G. Čepavičiūtė, who will soon make her debut at the Paralympic Games.
“Carrying the Lithuanian flag is a great honor as an athlete,” added D. Dundzys.
True, this time the Lithuanian Paralympic delegation will go to Paris without the goalball team, which in 2021 Took third place in Tokyo.
“We are very happy that nine athletes are from individual sports. This is probably one of the largest delegations from individual sports, because there was always a goalball team that brought an additional six people to the delegation.
Interest in disabled sports due to the (absence) of the goalball team, I don’t know if it is changing. But the fact is that the Paralympic Games will be broadcast in Lithuania. Basically, there would be a lot more broadcasts, but I don’t think the interest will be lower,” said Mindaugas Bilius, president of the Lithuanian Paralympic Committee.
Focus on Paralympic sports
at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021. due to COVID-19, it was held without fans, which resulted in the athletes having to compete in front of completely empty stands.
The swimmer E. Matakas, who won a bronze medal in Japan, said that he enjoys more than feeling stressed when there are fans in the stands.
“I’m just looking forward to it. I like it when the stands roar, rustle. I missed that a lot. I am very happy that I will be able to feel that again”, said E. Matakas.
We remind you that this is the tenth Paralympic Games in the history of independent Lithuania, and according to athletes, more people are interested in the Games, and the story itself is fascinating and allows you to believe that Paralympic sports in Lithuania are taking steps forward.
“I can say that compared to ordinary competitions, the interest in the Paralympic Games is much higher than in the European Championships,” said swimmer E. Matakas.
“I think that Paralympic sport in Lithuania is taking steps forward. Thinking back – 1992 there were four athletes in the first Paralympics, and now we have nine. It is also a fact that more people now appreciate the Paralympic sport and do not see it as a secondary sporting event.
Steps are being taken, but steps still need to be taken if we are to compare with other countries. But… small victories should also be celebrated,” said G. Čepavičiūtė.
“We are getting more and more attention from Lithuanian politicians, as well as from the Lithuanian community, society and business”, added LPAK president M. Bilius.
Preparation lies in psychology
LPAK president M. Bilius said that before the Paralympic Paris, the athletes had quite good conditions to prepare for the start of life.
“I think and I am convinced that the athletes are motivated just because they are already participating in the Paralympic Games. The conditions… according to my understanding and my knowledge, they are getting better,” said M. Bilius.
Despite the improving conditions, athletes often like students will want additional time to prepare.
This was recognized by 50-year-old Raimeda Bučinskytė, who shone at the European Championships, and will participate in her debut Paralympic Games in Paris.
“From the very beginning you do what you have to do, then you highlight the weak points, then you work on them and… like a student… (smiles – ed.) to give a week (additional – ed.) … already then I would polish both. Moods, inner state change, bad technical elements start to creep in,” said R. Bučinskytė.
Moreover, R. Bučinskytė revealed that this time the preparation was a little different.
“Really a lot is different. Recently, social networks have been abandoned in order not to worry too much, that someone is on vacation, that someone is at the palm trees, and you are at your shooting range with a pistol (smiles – ed.). I wanted to keep my inner peace as much as possible and make friends with myself,” said the shooter.
in 2018 and 2022 R. Bučinskytė won silver medals in the “Grand Prix” series, and it seems that there should be less excitement before the Paralympic Paris, because R. Bučinskytė is one of the best in Europe.
The Lithuanian revealed that her emotions are overwhelming, but she tries not to focus too much on them.
“When the feeling is burning inside, I am here and now. Everything is beautiful and green in Lithuania and I try not to think about the future so as not to stress myself unnecessarily. I myself feel that I am a bit more sensitive inside, but during the preparation I wanted to analyze myself and find inner peace”, added R. Bučinskytė
“Psychologically, I feel prepared well. This is my third Paralympic Games. Probably, there was no such calmness and focus. Now I feel really good, both psychologically and physically, I am ready”, added swimmer E. Matakas.
Without loud statements
Four Lithuanian athletes flew to the Paralympic Games in Paris on Monday afternoon, who all unanimously agreed that it will not be easy, but at the same time they want to improve their personal results and show that Lithuania is strong in Paralympic sports.
in 2021 E. Matakas won bronze in Tokyo, but before going to Paris, the swimmer did not hang the medal around his neck.
“We feel ready, so now we need to realize it. I wouldn’t say that I’m on the way to the medals. My goal is to swim faster than I did this season and try to get closer to my personal times,” said E. Matakas.
“The biggest dream was to get to Paris, and after that, the burden of responsibility is greater than the fun itself… It’s a bit easier at the European Championships, and more difficult when everyone comes together. There are a lot of good shooters from India, Iraq, Iran. This (Paralympic Games) is a completely different level, but I try not to compete with other competitors, I try to concentrate on my work.
I keep repeating – all the magic in shooting is technique.
We already have a main goal in life, which is very important. Thanks to him, you get less sick, you have a better mood, you don’t have time to devote yourself to the lives of others, to explain how they should live. Now you are focused on your work and there is no time to chat. I also wish you to remember to enjoy the competition. This is a responsibility, a burden, but good emotions should also be taken away from Paris,” said R. Bučinskaitė.
“I’m really looking forward to going to Paris. I really want to see what the aura will be like in Paris. Since I know that I have entered with a formal invitation and I know how my rivals swim, I know that they are stronger than me, I do not have high expectations for myself. I look at the competition as an opportunity to show who I am,” said swimmer G. Čepavičiūtė.
“I would like to wish myself to enjoy the competition and not burn out. You are physically prepared, but when you sit at the turret, everything is determined by your psychological preparation”, added G. Čepavičiūtė.
We remind you that the Paris Paralympic Games will be held from August 28. until September 8, and you can follow all the news on the portal lrytas.lt.
The schedule of Lithuanian Paralympic athletes in Paris (Lithuanian time):
Wednesday, August 28
9:00 p.m. Opening ceremony of the Paris Summer Paralympic Games
August 30, Friday
11:07 a.m. Swimming. Gabriele Čepavičiūtė (SM6 class – 200m individual medley). Selection
7:01 p.m. Swimming. Gabriele Čepavičiūtė (SM6 class – 200m individual medley). The final
9:50 p.m. Athletics. Donatas Dundzys (F37 class – shot put). The final
August 31, Saturday
12:42 p.m. Swimming. Edgaras Mataks (S11 class – 50m freestyle). Selection
1:00 p.m. Shooting. Raimeda Bučinskytė (10-meter air pistol). Selection
3:45 p.m. Shooting. Raimeda Bučinskytė (10-meter air pistol). The final
9:27 p.m. Swimming. Edgaras Mataks (S11 class – 50m freestyle). The final
Tuesday, September 3
1:00 p.m. Athletics. Oksana Dobrovolskaja (F11 – discus throw). The final
September 4, Wednesday
11:05 a.m. Athletics. Andrius Skuja (F46 class – shot put). The final
1:02 p.m. Athletics. Eivydė Vainauskaitė (F46 class – shot put). The final
September 5, Thursday
11:10 a.m. Swimming. Edgar Mataks (SB11 class – 100m breaststroke). Selection
7:01 p.m. Swimming. Edgar Mataks (SB11 class – 100m breaststroke). The final
Friday, September 6
11:00 a.m. Judo wrestling. Osvaldas Bareikis (J2 class – weight category up to 73 kg). Selection
5:00 p.m. Judo wrestling. Osvaldas Bareikis (J2 class – weight category up to 73 kg). Finals
12:50 p.m. Athletics. Donatas Dundzys (F37 class – discus throw). The final
Saturday, September 7
10:57 a.m. Swimming. Gabriele Čepavičiūtė (S6 class – 100m backstroke). Selection
6:53 p.m. Swimming. Gabriele Čepavičiūtė (S6 class – 100m backstroke). The final
September 8, Sunday
Athletics. Aušra Garunkšnytė (T12 class – marathon). The start time will be announced later.
2024-08-27 03:42:30