Lithuania at the Summer Olympics
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Lithuania, after declaring independence from the Russian Empire in 1918, sent its athletes to the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris for the first time. At first it was considered to send 33 athletes, but then it was decided to limit the delegation to 13 soccer players and 2 cyclists. The soccer players arrived to Paris only a day before the game was scheduled. Lithuania debuted at the Olympic games on May 25, 1922 at 2:40pm when the match between Lithuanian and Swiss teams started. Lithuania lost 9-0 (4-0). The cyclists could not finish the 188 km race because of technical difficulties.
In 1928 Summer Olympics Lithuania had 12 representatives for 4 sports: 2 boxers, 4 cyclists, and 5 athletics and one weightlifter. Juozas Vinča achieved the best results and took 5-7 place in boxing. Such results disappointed the society.
In 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California Lithuania did not participate due to economic difficulties and political controversies surrounding the National Olympic Committee. In 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin Lithuania was not invited by Germany due to Memelland/Klaipėda region controversy. In 1940 Lithuania lost its independence to the Soviet Russia. After the war Lithuanians participated in the Olympic games with the Soviet Union team. From 1952 to 1988, 86 Lithuanians participated in the Olympics and won 60 medals (57 in Summer and 3 in Winter Olympics).
After declaring independence in 1990 Lithuania did not miss any Olympic games.
[edit] Medal count
| Year | Number of athletes | Number of sports | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent Lithuania | |||||
| 1924 | 13 | 2 | |||
| 1928 | 12 | 4 | |||
| The Soviet Union (medals are counted per indiduals) | |||||
| 1952 | 5 | 3 | 3 | ||
| 1956 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 1 | |
| 1960 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| 1964 | 16 | 3 | 1 | ||
| 1968 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 1972 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | |
| 1976 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| 1980 | 16 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 3 |
| 1988 | 25 | 9 | 10 | 3 | 2 |
| Independent Lithuania (medals are counted per teams) | |||||
| 1992 | 46 | 11 | 1 | 1 | |
| 1996 | 60 | 14 | 1 | ||
| 2000 | 61 | 15 | 2 | 3 | |
| 2004 | 59 | 13 | 1 | 2 | |
| Totals | 360 | 20 | 26 | 19 | 53 |
[edit] List of gold medal winners
| No. | Name | Sport | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the Soviet Union | |||
| 1 | Vasilijus Matuševas | Voleyball | 1968 |
| 2 | Danas Pozniakas | Boxing | 1968 |
| 3 | Vladislavas Česiūnas | Canoeing | 1972 |
| 4 | Modestas Paulauskas | Basketball | 1972 |
| 5 | Vida Beselienė | Basketball | 1980 |
| 6 | Aldona Česaitytė-Nenėnienė | Handball | 1976 and 1980 |
| 7 | Lina Kačiušytė | Swimming | 1980 |
| 8 | Sigita Mažeikaitė-Strečen | Handball | 1980 |
| 9 | Angelė Rupšienė | Basketball | 1976 and 1980 |
| 10 | Remigijus Valiulis | Athletics | 1980 |
| 11 | Robertas Žulpa | Swimming | 1980 |
| 12 | Valdemaras Chomičius | Basketball | 1988 |
| 13 | Arvydas Janonis | Football | 1988 |
| 14 | Artūras Kasputis | Cycling | 1988 |
| 15 | Rimas Kurtinaitis | Basketball | 1988 |
| 16 | Šarūnas Marčiulionis | Basketball | 1988 |
| 17 | Arminas Narbekovas | Football | 1988 |
| 18 | Valdemaras Novickis | Handball | 1988 |
| 19 | Arvydas Sabonis | Basketball | 1988 |
| 20 | Gintautas Umaras | Cycling | 1988 (twice) |
| Independent Lithuania | |||
| 21 | Romas Ubartas | Discus throw | 1992 |
| 22 | Daina Gudzinevičiūtė | Shooting | 2000 |
| 23 | Virgilijus Alekna | Discus throw | 2000 and 2004 |
