This Saturday, August 19, the eight-day World Athletics Championships will begin in Budapest (Hungary). 35 thousand more than 2000 track and field athletes from more than 200 countries will compete in the spectator stadium.
The list of participants includes 16 Lithuanians who won the right to start in the championship. By comparison, last year in Oregon (JAV) 9 Lithuanian athletes participated in the world championship.
Before the start of this year's biggest athletics competition, the general secretary of the Lithuanian Athletics Federation (LLAF) shared her thoughts Nijole Medvedeva. "I hope that the championship will be successful for all of Lithuania. I wish every athlete the best result of the season or career. I will not hide that we expect high places, especially from the discus throwers, but I have no doubt that our other athletes will also give all their strength and achieve high results", N. Medvedeva said hopefully.
This championship is also important for track and field athletes because of the scholarships, since next year the European Championship (June 7-12, Rome) and the Paris Olympic Games (July 26-August 11) will take place. "I would really like our athletes to reach the TOP16, because it would make life easier for them in preparation for the Olympic Games. Now, a really small number of track and field athletes receive scholarships, which are extremely important," wished the LLAF vice-president.
According to N. Medvedeva, the almost twice the size of the Lithuanian national team compared to the 2022 World Championship was due to the progress shown by the athletes: "Ours have reached a higher level. I am very happy for the debutants Greta Karinauskaitė, Gabija Galvydytė, Aina Grikšaitė, Gediminas Truskauskas and others who stepped forward and added to our team. At the beginning of the season, we really didn't dream of a team of this size."
The general secretary of the LLAF added that the current selection system (its principle is that 50% of the athletes qualify after fulfilling the standards, the other 50% - through the ranking system) is difficult for the championships: "Athletes fight for entry until the last minute, they can never give up. I am happy that 16 Lithuanians will start in Budapest, because it shows the potential for the Olympic Games."
"I wish, especially for debutants, courage, determination and confidence in their abilities. All of you are capable of achieving the results you desire," said N. Medvedeva.
On Saturday, the first day of the World Championship, 4 Lithuanians will start. The competition will open Marius Žiūkas, which at 9:50 a.m. Lithuanian time will start in the 20 km sports walk event.
20:09 p.m. will appear in the discus qualification Martin ir Mykolas Aleknos, and at 21:43 p.m. will also enter the sector Andrius Gudžius.
The entire composition of Lithuanian track and field athletes:
Mykolas Alekna (discus throw);
Andrius Gudžius (discus throw);
Martynas Alekna (discus throw);
Ieva Zarankaitė (discus throw);
Edis Matusevičius (javelin throw);
Liveta Jasiūnaitė (javelin throw);
Aina Grikšaitė (triple jump);
Dovilė Kilty (triple jump);
Airinė Palšytė (high jump);
Gediminas Truskauskas (200 m);
Modesta Justė Morauskaitė (400 m);
Gabija Galvydytė (800 m);
Greta Karinauskaitė (3000 m kl/b);
Marius Žiūkas (20 km sports walk);
Austėja Kavaliauskaitė (35 km sports walk);
Loreta Kančytė (marathon).
