Information about the swimmer’s death was reported by the portal lrt.lt.
R. Žulpa became the Olympic champion at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, where he won gold in the 200 m breaststroke event.
“That victory is the most important in my career. During the Olympic years, I was the world season leader in the 200m breaststroke. I was predicted a gold medal.
Even if the Americans had participated in the Olympic Games, I would have been considered one of the most serious favorites to win in my event. I read somewhere that it is being considered to establish an Olympic museum, so I think there would be a place for my medal, which is now in my house”, – the champion shared his memories of the Olympic gold with Maryte Marcinkevičiūtė, the journalist of “Olimpinės Panoramas”, in the past.
Born in Vilnius, R. Žulpa became not only an Olympic champion during his career. The swimmer even won gold at the European Championships three times and once became the vice-champion of the planet and the winner of the Universiade.
The swimming star also became the Soviet Union swimming champion 12 times, won the European Swimming Cup five times.
R. Žulpa held the world record for 200 m breaststroke – 2 minutes. 15.85 sec.
In 1981, the native of Vilnius was elected the most popular Lithuanian athlete.
R. Žulpa was also awarded the Olympic Star of the Lithuanian National Olympic Committee (2010) and the Medal for Merit to Olympism (2015), the Sports Cross of Honor of the Department of Physical Culture and Sports (2015) and the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Gediminas (2024) .).
R. Žulpa’s gold swimming in the 1980s Olympics:
2024-08-31 13:00:29