Gintaras "Vytas" Krapikas (born July 6, 1961 in Kretinga, Lithuanian SSR, USSR) is a retired Lithuanian basketball player for Žalgiris Kaunas. He was a member of the Lithuanian national team that won a bronze medal in Barcelona's 1992 Summer Olympics.
In 2000 he took a position as assistant basketball coach for Žalgiris; together with the head coach, Antanas Sireika, he stepped down from this position in 2006 when the coaching team was re-organized. From 2002 to 2005 he was an assistant coach for the Lithuanian national team. During the 1980s, while playing for Žalgiris, his jersey number was 9, and his position was small forward. From 2006 till 2008, he was assistant basketball coach for UNICS Kazan. Since 2008, he was the head coach of Žalgiris Kaunas. On December 18, 2009 he resigned from Žalgiris Kaunas head coach post. He also coached BC Nevėžis for a short time in the 2010-2011 season,and was the assistant and head coach for BC Azovmash in 2011-2012. He returned to UNICS Kazan in 2012. Before the 2013-2014 season, he came back to Žalgiris Kaunas as an assistant coach.
Awards/achievements
- USSR League Champion - 1985, 1986, 1987
- Intercontinental W. Jones Cup winner - 1986
- Olympic Bronze medalist - 1992
- European championship Silver medalist - 1995
Nickname
Gintaras Krapikas has an old nickname, which appeared during his tenure with Kaunas Žalgiris as an player. The nickname appeared due to his second name "Krapikas", which is a little bit similar to Lithuanian word "Krapai" (English: Dill) and at that time there was a famous dill farmer Vytas from Petrašiūnai.[1]
References
- (Lithuanian) . Gintaras Krapikas. Lietuvos Krepšinio Lyga.
- (Lithuanian) . G. Krapikas: „Žalgiris“ – mano gyvenimas. Balsas.lt.
