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Lithuania's Olympic path was quite complicated - for many years, another country was forcibly represented, and there was a critical attitude towards our country's athletes - but it was always meaningful and productive. During the decades of Soviet occupation, there was not a single Olympic Games from which Lithuanians would return without medals. The same, or perhaps even greater, ambitions of athletes were visible after regaining independence. The opportunity to represent their country, to carry their country's flag inspired the athletes, and the spiritual struggle for Lithuania was continued by the matured new generation of Olympians. After regaining independence, since the 1992- Olympic Games, Lithuanian representatives have not missed a single one and have delighted with their achievements in each of them.
The first steps of independent Lithuania at the Olympics
After a break of more than 60 years, Lithuanian athletes were finally able to represent their country at the Olympic Games again. The second debut of independent Lithuania took place in 1992- , at the Olympics in Barcelona. The results in Spain were as encouraging as the event itself – the Lithuanian men's basketball team won bronze medals. True, they were not the only ones who distinguished themselves. In the same year, track and field athlete R. Ubartas brought home gold. In 1992- , not only the Summer but also the Winter Olympic Games were held. Athletes from Lithuania also participated in the latter, but no medals were won. The next Winter Olympics, held two years later in Norway, was not very productive either. Unfortunately, we did not bring any medals from Lillehammer, but 12- place in the overall standings of Margarita Drobiazkas and Povilas Vanagas was evaluated quite favorably.
1996- – summer again, Olympics again. This time the Lithuanian delegation is leaving for the Atlantic. Our country’s Olympians appeared in the United States of America in greater numbers than ever before – as many as 61 athletes. However, there were fewer medals than expected, but they were brought back. Although the Lithuanian basketball team at the Olympic Games in Atlanta consisted of only 11 players (instead of the usual 12 ), this did not prevent them from winning bronze again. This year was the Olympic debut of many now well-known or even retired athletes, for example, S. Štombergas, E. and M. Žukauskas, T, Pačės and others. And for some – an opportunity to win their second Olympic medal, such as: G. Einikis, R. Kurtinaitis, Š. Marčiulionis and A. Sabonis.
The last Olympic Games of the twentieth century in which Lithuania participated were held in Japan in 1998- 7 athletes from our country competed in the Winter Olympics in Nagano, but failed to win any medals.
The first steps of independent Lithuania in the Olympics were timid, but successful. A great start in 1992- and an equally significant finish in 1998- , bringing home not only bronze but also gold, laid a solid foundation for achieving high results at the next, twenty-first century Olympic Games.
Olympic history of Lithuania until today
The new millennium shone with gold for Lithuania – in 2000- , the country’s athletes who participated in Sydney brought home 5 medals, 2 of which were gold. That year, shooter D. Gudzinevičiūtė and discus thrower V. Alekna demonstrated excellent results in Australia. The country’s basketball players again won bronze, as did cyclist D. Žiliūtė and two rowers who rowed in a double.
And here is 2004- Olympics in Greece, marked by a dramatic duel between Lithuanian and US basketball players – our national team, which fought tenaciously until the last minutes of the competition, nevertheless lost by only a few points and was left without or, as is often joked, with a wooden medal – taking 4- place. However, the gloomy mood was significantly brightened by the second consecutive gold medal brought to the country by V. Alekna and even the improved Olympic discus throw record! Two more medals – silver, were won by track and field athletes in Athens. The Games held four years later in Beijing, although they gave Lithuania 5 medals, are remembered as the ones in which athletes of independent Lithuania did not win a single gold medal for the first time, but in 2012- in London, luck smiled again. Rūta Meilutytė, who returned from Great Britain with a gold medal at the age of just 15, continues to make Lithuania famous with her impressive achievements.
Pentathlonist Laura Asadauskaitė-Zadneprovskienė also surprised with excellent results and took first place. A canoeist, wrestler, and boxer brought home bronze and silver medals.
The Olympic Games, which arouse a lot of passion and attract a lot of people, will be held in Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro, in 2016- It remains only to hope that, having proven so many times that they can be the best in various fields and win medals, Lithuanian athletes will delight with victories at this year's Olympics. Especially - that the basketballs sent by our team will fall directly into the basket.