The French know how to noisily celebrate sporting achievements, and they proved it once again by setting up the Champions Park next to the famous Eiffel Tower during the Paris Olympics. On the Trocadero Square, almost every night, Olympic medalists walk the podium and celebrate their victory with an audience of several thousand. Rower Viktorija Senkutė, who won Lithuania's first medal in Paris, had such an experience.
"The feeling is really indescribable because it's always a good party where the rowers are, but here it's an absolutely championship party." Everywhere you turn, there are medals around your neck, it was no different. I don't even know how to explain it, and there will probably never be another chance to have a moment like it here in Paris. This is my first medal in an adult competition, but could it be better? I won't forget the moment for the rest of my life," the athlete who won the historic bronze medal for Lithuania shared her impressions after the event.
Athletes usually have such an opportunity to celebrate their medal again the day after their victory, but Lithuanian rower Viktorija Senkutė celebrated her bronze medal on Monday evening, as the Trocadero square, as well as part of the streets of the city of Paris, was occupied by the impressive Olympic road cycling group race over the weekend.
To 13 thousand anyone can enter the grandstands without any tickets. It is true that the corresponding rows are infinite. However, before the parade, the Olympic medal winners attend a special banquet where they can mingle with other sports celebrities. On the same evening, one of the brightest faces was Olympic champion Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic. Victoria herself immortalized herself with the legendary rowers from Croatia, the brothers Martin and Valent Sinkovic.
The medalists can choose their relatives or friends who will be able to keep them company in such a VIP area - together with V. Senkute, other rowers Ieva Adomavičiūtė and Giedrius Bieliauskas participated in the event.
"While walking on the catwalk, there were also people from Lithuania who wanted to take pictures, we took selfies. The rowers and I laughed that we were simply not used to such attention. Anyway, it's a very good opportunity for everyone to hang out and chat. Those moments are very precious and important, because the rowing community has always been famous for being strong and supporting each other," the bronze-winning rower shared her impressions.
Right after the podium, the rower herself went to Champions Park to watch the 3x3 basketball team's fight for bronze and saw that triumph with her own eyes.
"It's an Olympic dream here, it's great that we can stay for a few more days and watch the performances of others," said V. Senkutė.
This evening, two members of the Lithuanian 3×3 basketball team - Gintautas Matulis and Evaldas Džiaugys - will walk on the podium in this Champions Park and celebrate their historic bronze medal. Šarūnas Vingelis and Aurelijs Pukelis are already returning home today.
