Rūta Meilutytė

Rūta Meilutytė

Meilutytė at the 2012 Olympic Games in London
Personal information
Nationality Lithuanian
Born 19 March 1997
Kaunas, Lithuania
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight 64 kg (141 lb)
Sport
Sport Swimming
Strokes Breaststroke, Freestyle
Club Plymouth Leander
Coach Jon Rudd

Rūta Meilutytė (Lithuanian pronunciation: ​[ruːˈt̪ɐ mʲɛɪ̯ɫʊˈtʲi̇̂ːtʲeː]; born 19 March 1997) is a Lithuanian swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, and world record holder. She is the current world record holder in the 50- and 100-meter breaststroke (long course). At the age of 17 she is also the first and the only swimmer in history to win all the possible swimming titles in all age groups.

At the age of 15, she had already broken eleven Lithuanian women's swimming records.[1] At the 2011 European Youth Summer Olympic Festival (Trabzon – Turkey) Meilutytė won the gold medal in the 100m breaststroke, a silver in the 50m freestyle and a bronze in the 100m freestyle. At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Meilutytė won the gold medal in the women's 100-metre breaststroke with a time of 1:05.47.[2][3] [4] [5] At age 15, she is also the youngest Lithuanian athlete to win an Olympic gold medal. In the semi-final she broke the European record in the 100 m breastroke with a time of 1:05:21. In 2013 Meilutytė broke her own European record by 0.01-second.[6] Rūta competed at 2013 World Aquatics Championships, in Barcelona, and achieved world records in the 100, and 50-meter breaststroke.[7] Meilutytė is a swimming scholar at Plymouth College and is coached by Jon Rudd at the Plymouth Leander Swimming programme.[8]

Personal life

Meilutytė was born in Kaunas, Lithuania on 19 March 1997, the daughter of Saulius Meilutis and Ingrida Meilutienė. During her early childhood Rūta lost her mother. In March 2001, when Rūta Meilutytė was 4, her mother was killed in a car accident.[9] She only vaguely remembers her, but relatives say that many of the swimmer's physical traits are inherited from her mother. Her father is a nurse for handicapped people, while before the accident her mother was a housewife. Meilutytė has two older brothers, Margiris (age 20), who is a law student, and Mindaugas (age 24).[9] Meilutytė began swimming at the age of seven.[10] Although not particularly tall, she has had size 43 feet (11 US) since she was just 13 years-old, and she wears now a size 44 shoe (12 US).[9][11][12][13] At age 13 she moved from Kaunas to Plymouth, where her father and brothers lived. Since then she has been coached by Jon Rudd at the Plymouth Leander Club.[14]

Career

Early career

In 2010 she broke her first Lithuanian swimming record in the women's 50 m and 100 m breaststroke.

2012

2012 Summer Olympic Games

Rūta at the 2012 Olympic Games with the Lithuanian swim team.

After earning selection to compete at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Meilutytė became the youngest Lithuanian swimmer to compete at Olympic games ever. In her first event, the 100-meter breaststroke heats, Meilutytė placed first, with a time of 1:05.56, and broke the national Lithuanian swimming record for the 100-meter breaststroke. At the 100-meter breaststroke semi-finals, Meilutytė also placed first, by breaking her previously set Lithuanian swimming record and she also broke the women's 100-meter breaststroke European record, with a time of 1:05.21. During the 100-meter breaststroke final, she won the gold medal, with a time of 1:05.47.[3][15] Meilutytė also competed in the 50m freestyle, where she failed to progress to the semi-final despite winning her heat and setting a new national record of 25.55 seconds,[16] and the 100m freestyle.[17]

During the 41st European Olympic Committees (EOC) General Assembly, Meilutytė was named 2012 best European young athlete of the year.[18]

2012 World Swimming Championships

At the 2012 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) in Istanbul, Turkey, Meilutytė competed in four events: 50-metre breaststroke, 100-metre breaststroke, 100-metre freestyle and 100-metre individual medley.

In her first event, 50-metre breaststroke heats, Meilutytė placed first, with a time of 29.56 seconds, and broke the national Lithuanian swimming record, European record and Championship record for the women's 50-metre breaststroke (short-course). In the 50-metre breaststroke semi-finals, Meilutytė also placed first, by breaking the same records again, with a time of 29.51 seconds. During the 50-meter breaststroke final, she won the gold medal, by beating Alia Atkinson (29.62) and Jessica Hardy (29.82) with a time of 29.44 seconds and for the third time broke all three records for the women's 50-metre breaststroke (short-course).[19]

At the 100-metre freestyle, where she progressed to the semi-final by placing 5th in her heat and setting a new national record of 53.54 seconds. Due to the fact that the semi-finals of women's 100-metre freestyle were held just 19 minutes before the 50-metre breaststroke final, Meilutytė withdrew from the 100-metre freestyle semi-finals because of the schedule being too tight.[19]

Meilutytė also competed in the 100-metre individual medley. During the 100-metre individual medley heats, Meilutytė placed second and set a new national record of 59.33 seconds. In the 100-metre individual medley semi-finals she placed third and again set a new national record of 59.15 seconds. In the final of the same event, Meilutytė won the silver medal and for the third time set a new national record of 58.79 seconds.[20]

On the third day of the Championships, Meilutytė competed in 100-metre breaststroke heats, where she placed first and set a new national record of 1:04.69. At the 100-metre breaststroke semi-finals she placed second, with a time of 1:04.81. On 15 December, Meilutytė competed in her last event of the 2012 FINA World Swimming Championships – the 100-metre breaststroke finals, and won her second gold medal in this championship, with a time of 1:03.52, and broke the national Lithuanian swimming record, European record and Championship record (which was previously held by Rebecca Soni) for the women's 100-metre breaststroke (short-course).[21][22]

During this championship, Meilutytė broke various national Lithuanian swimming records nine times, European – four times and Championship records also four times.

2013

2013 World Aquatics championships

At the 2013 World Aquatics Championships in Barcelona, Spain, Meilutytė has competed in three events: 50-metre breaststroke, 100-metre breaststroke and 100-metre freestyle. On 29 July 2013, Meilutytė competed in her first event – the 100-meter breaststroke heats, where she placed first with a time of 1:04.52, and broke the national Lithuanian swimming record, European record and Championship record for the 100-meter breaststroke (long course).[23] On the same day in the 100-meter breaststroke semi-finals Meilutytė broke the World record in 100-metre breaststroke, finishing with a time of 1:04:35 seconds and becoming the first record-holder of the championships[24] and the first Lithuanian athlete to break a swimming world record since Lithuania gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1990.[25] During the 100-meter breaststroke final, she won the gold medal, by beating Yuliya Efimova (1:05.02) and Jessica Hardy (1:05.52) with a time of 1:04.42.[26]

Meilutytė also competed in the 100-metre freestyle, where she finished with a time of 55.72 and failed to progress to the semi-final. She also was scheduled to compete in the 50-metre freestyle, but did not start because wanted to concentrate on her next event – 50-metre breaststroke.

In 50-metre breaststroke heats, Meilutytė placed third, with a time of 30.07.[27] On the same day, during the 50-meter breaststroke semi-finals, Meilutytė placed first, with a time of 29.48, and broke world record in 50-metre breaststroke, which was previously held by Yuliya Yefimova, who broke it in the 50-metre breaststroke heats on the same day before. On the next and the last day of the championships, Meilutytė competed in 50-metre breaststroke final, where she won the silver medal with a time of 29.59.[28]

2013 World Junior Swimming Championships

2013 Swimming World Cup

2013 European Short Course Swimming Championships

2014

2014 Summer Youth Olympics

At the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China, Meilutytė has competed in three events: 50-metre breaststroke, 100-metre breaststroke and 100-metre freestyle.

In her first event, 50-metre breaststroke heats, Meilutytė placed third, with a time of 32.11 seconds. In the 50-metre breaststroke semi-finals, Meilutytė placed first, with a time of 31.67 seconds. During the 50-meter breaststroke final, she won the gold medal, by beating Julia Willers (31.78) and Anna Sztankovics (31.84) with a time of 30.14 seconds.[29] At the 100-metre breaststroke heats, Meilutytė placed second, with a time of 1:08.97 seconds.[30] At the 100-metre breaststroke semi-finals she placed first, with a time of 1:07.83. On the next day of the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics, Meilutytė competed in 100-metre breaststroke final, where she won the gold medal with a time of 1:05.39.[31]

Meilutytė also competed in the 100-metre freestyle. During the 100-metre freestyle heats, Meilutytė placed fourth, with a time of 56.20 seconds.[32] On the same day in the 100-metre freestyle semi-finals, where she placed fourth, with a time of 55.46 seconds. During the 100-metre freestyle final, Meilutytė placed fifth and set a new personal record of 55.17 seconds.[33]

She also was scheduled to compete in the 200-metre individual medley, but did not start due to the pain in her shoulder.[34]

2014 European Aquatics Championships

At the 2014 European Aquatics Championships in Berlin, Germany, Meilutytė has competed in two events: 50-metre breaststroke and 50-metre freestyle. On 23 August 2014, Meilutytė competed in her first event – the 50-meter breaststroke heats, where she placed first with a time of 30.73.[35] On the same day in the 50-meter breaststroke semi-finals Meilutytė broke the Championship record in 50-metre breaststroke, previously held by Yuliya Efimova (30.29 seconds), finishing with a time of 29.88 seconds.[36] On 24 August 2014, Meilutytė competed in the 50-metre breaststroke final, where she won the gold medal with a time of 29.89 seconds, thus making it the last gold medal she needed to reach first ever Aquatic Grand Slam, which requires to win gold medal in swimming events at Olympic Games, Youth Olympic Games, FINA World Senior (long-course and short-course) and Junior Championships, Swimming World Cup, European Youth and Senior Championships (long-course and short-course).[37][38] Meilutytė is the first Lithuanian swimmer ever to win gold medal in a long-course European Aquatics Championships.[37]

At the 50-metre freestyle, she progressed to the semi-final by placing 17th with the time of 25.54 seconds. Meilutytė decided to withdrew from the 50-metre freestyle semi-finals because she wanted to save energy for the 50-metre breaststroke final.[35]

Personal bests

As of 13 October 2013
Event Time Meet Location Date Note(s)
50m breaststroke (long course) 29.48 2013 World Aquatics Championships Spain Barcelona, Spain 3 August 2013 NR/WR
100m breaststroke (long course) 1:04.35 2013 World Aquatics Championships Spain Barcelona, Spain 29 July 2013 NR/WR
50m breaststroke (short course) 28.89 2013 FINA Swimming World Cup Moscow Russia Moscow, Russia 13 October 2013 NR/ER
100m breaststroke (short course) 1:02.36 2013 FINA Swimming World Cup Moscow Russia Moscow, Russia 12 October 2013 NR/WR
50m butterfly (long course) 27.14 2013 World Junior Championships United Arab Emirates Dubai, UAE 28 August 2013 NR
50m backstroke (long course) 29.04 2013 World Junior Championships United Arab Emirates Dubai, UAE 29 August 2013 NR
100m backstroke (long course) 1.04.19 2012 British GAS Swimming Competition United Kingdom Plymouth, United Kingdom 7 May 2012
50m freestyle (long course) 25.10 2013 World Junior Championships United Arab Emirates Dubai, UAE 31 August 2013 NR
100m freestyle (long course) 54.94 2013 World Junior Championships United Arab Emirates Dubai, UAE 28 August 2013 NR/CR
200m freestyle (long course) 2:02.68 2012 British GAS Swimming Competition United Kingdom Plymouth, United Kingdom 7 May 2012 NR
50m freestyle (short course) 24.97 2012 World Cup Sweden Stockholm, Sweden 13 October 2012 NR
100m freestyle (short course) 53.54 2012 World Championships Turkey Istanbul, Turkey 13 December 2012 NR
200m individual medley (long course) 2:12.32 2013 World Junior Championships United Arab Emirates Dubai, UAE 29 August 2013 NR/CR
100m individual medley (short course) 58.57 2013 FINA Swimming World Cup Moscow Russia Moscow, Russia 13 October 2013 NR
200m individual medley (short course) 2:09.55 2012 Lithuanian Championships Lithuania Anykščiai, Lithuania 22 December 2012 NR

Records

European records

Type Distance Event Time Meet Location Date Age Ref
ER 100 m (long course) Breaststroke 1:05.21 2012 Summer Olympics United Kingdom London, United Kingdom 29 July 2012 15 [39]
ER 50 m (short course) Breaststroke 29.44 2012 World Championships Turkey Istanbul, Turkey 13 Dec 2012 15 [40]
ER 100 m (short course) Breaststroke 1:03.52 2012 World Championships Turkey Istanbul, Turkey 15 Dec 2012 15 [22]
ER 100 m (long course) Breaststroke 1:05.20 2013 International Swimming Meeting of Monte-Carlo Monaco Monte Carlo, Monaco 8 June 2013 16 [6]
ER 50 m (long course) Breaststroke 29.96 2013 International Swimming Meeting of Barcelona Spain Barcelona, Spain 11 June 2013 16 [41]
ER 100 m (long course) Breaststroke 1:04.35 2013 World Aquatics Championships Spain Barcelona, Spain 29 July 2013 16 [23]
ER 100 m (short course) Breaststroke 1:02.36 2013 FINA Swimming World Cup Moscow Russia Moscow, Russia 12 October 2013 16 [42]
ER 50 m (short course) Breaststroke 28.89 2013 FINA Swimming World Cup Moscow Russia Moscow, Russia 13 October 2013 16 [43]

World records

Type Distance Event Time Meet Location Date Age Ref
WR 100 m (long course) Breaststroke 1:04.35 2013 World Aquatics Championships Spain Barcelona, Spain 29 July 2013 16 [24]
WR 50 m (long course) Breaststroke 29.48 2013 World Aquatics Championships Spain Barcelona, Spain 3 August 2013 16 [44]
WR 100 m (short course) Breaststroke 1:02.36 2013 FINA Swimming World Cup Moscow Russia Moscow, Russia 12 October 2013 16 [42]

Decorations

Grand Cross of Order for Merits to Lithuania (10 August 2012)[45]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Plaukikė Meilutytė toliau gerina Lietuvos rekordus". Delfi.lt.
  2. ↑ "Lithuanian 15-year-old Ruta Meilutyte wins shock gold". Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Walker, Peter; Bull, Andy (31 July 2012). "Ruta Meilutyte grabs a gold for Lithuania". Guardian UK (London). Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  4. ↑ "Rūta Meilutytė is the new world champion". Lithuania Tribune.
  5. ↑ "Meilutytė: I have to say no to Great Britain". Lithuania Tribune.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "2013 International Swimming Meeting of Monte-Carlo 100 m Breastroke Women" (PDF). http://montecarlo-swimming.org''. 8 June 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  7. ↑ "Olympic teen swim sensation Ruta Meilutyte overcomes adversity - CNN.com". CNN. 5 June 2013.
  8. ↑ http://www.london2012.com/athlete/meilutyte-ruta-1065297/
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Be motinos užaugusią plaukikę pergalių keliu lydi tėvas". lrytas.lt. 30 July 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  10. ↑ "R.Meilutytės pirmasis treneris: ji verkė, kai tėtis neleido plaukti". Kauno diena. 31 July 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  11. ↑ http://i-swimmer.ru/foto/lithuania/meilutyte/meilutyte.htm In Russian
  12. ↑ Rūta Meilutytė, who grew up without mother is accompanied on her road to victories by her father
  13. ↑ http://deportes.elpais.com/deportes/2013/07/30/actualidad/1375211827_715106.html In Spanish
  14. ↑ http://www.yourswimlog.com/how-badass-is-ruta-meilutytes-start/
  15. ↑ White, Duncan (31 July 2012). "15-year-old Plymouth schoolgirl Ruta Meilutyte takes shock 100m breaststroke gold". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  16. ↑ Women's 50m Freestyle, London2012.com
  17. ↑ Women's 100m Freestyle, London2012.com
  18. ↑ "Lithuanian sweimmer named 2012 best European Young Athlete". Eurolympic. 11 December 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "R.Meilutytei – pasaulio čempionato auksas!". delfi.lt. 13 December 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  20. ↑ "R.Meilutytė iškovojo sidabrą!". delfi.lt. 14 December 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  21. ↑ "R.Meilutytė iškovojo dar vieną aukso medalį!". delfi.lt. 15 December 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "2012 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) – Women's 100-metre breaststroke (final)". Omega Timing. Retrieved 2012-12-15.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "R. Meilutytė Barselonoje pagerino Europos 100 m plaukimo krūtine rekordą". DELFI. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "R. Meilutytė pasiekė pasaulio rekordą ir iškovojo teisę plaukti čempionato finale". DELFI. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  25. ↑ "Meilutyte lights up Barcelona with world best". Reuters. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  26. ↑ Rogers, Iain (30 July 2013). "Meilutyte adds breaststroke gold to world record". Reuters. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  27. ↑ "R. Meilutytė su trečiu rezultatu pateko į 50 m plaukimo krūtine rungties pusfinalį". DELFI. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  28. ↑ "R. Meilutytė 50 m plaukimo krūtine rungtyje iškovojo sidabrą". DELFI. 4 August 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  29. ↑ "Pirmasis auksas: R.Meilutytė triumfavo Nandzingo jaunimo olimpiadoje!". SPORTAS.LT. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  30. ↑ "R.Meilutytė jaunimo olimpiadoje pateko į 100 m plaukimo krūtine pusfinalį". SPORTAS.LT. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  31. ↑ "Jokių vilčių varžovėms nepalikusi R.Meilutytė Nandzingą palieka iškovojusi antrąjį aukso medalį!". SPORTAS.LT. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  32. ↑ "R.Meilutytė jaunimo olimpiadoje pateko į dar vienos rungties pusfinalį". SPORTAS.LT. 17 August 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  33. ↑ "R.Meilutytei Nandzinge nepavyko iškovoti dar vieno medalio". SPORTAS.LT. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  34. ↑ "Peties skausmą pajutusi R.Meilutytė ir P.Grigaliūnas kovos dėl vietos Nandzingo jaunimo olimpinių žaidynių finale". SPORTAS.LT. 17 August 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 "R. Meilutytė Berlyne į 50 m krūtine rungties pusfinalį pateko su geriausiu rezultatu". DELFI.lt. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  36. ↑ "R. Meilutytė į finalą žengė pagerindama J. Jefimovai priklausiusį Europos čempionatų rekordą". DELFI.lt. 23 August 1923. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 "Titulų kolekcija pilna – R. Meilutytė Berlyne tapo Europos čempione". DELFI.lt. 24 August 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  38. ↑ "Aquatic Grand Slam For Ruta Meilutyte With European Gold in Dominant 29.89". swimvortex.com. 24 August 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  39. ↑ "2012 London Olympics: Lithuania's Ruta Meilutyte Sets European Record to Top 100 Breast Semis". Swimming World Magazine. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  40. ↑ "2012 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) – Women's 50-metre breaststroke (final)". Omega Timing. Retrieved 2012-12-13.
  41. ↑ "2013 International Swimming Meeting of Barcelona 50 m Breastroke Women Records" (PDF). http://montecarlo-swimming.org''. 11 June 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 http://www.swimvortex.com/next-wave-in-meilutyte-mission-102-36-wr/
  43. ↑ http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/World/36252.asp
  44. ↑ "R. Meilutytė kirto atgal – į 50 m plaukimo krūtine rungties finalą ji pateko su nauju pasaulio rekordu". DELFI. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  45. ↑ Prezidentė apdovanojo olimpinę čempionę Rūtą Meilutytę

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rūta Meilutytė.
Records
Preceded by
Russia Yuliya Yefimova		 Women's 50 m breaststroke
world record holder (long course)
3 August 2013 – present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
United States Jessica Hardy		 Women's 100 m breaststroke
world record holder (long course)
29 July 2013 – present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
United States Rebecca Soni		 Women's 100-metre breaststroke
world record holder (short course)
12 October 2013 – 3 December 2014 		Succeeded by
Jamaica Alia Atkinson (tie)
Preceded by

Russia Yuliya Yefimova
Russia Yuliya Yefimova		 Women's 50 m breaststroke
European record holder (long course)
11 June 2013 – 3 August 2013
3 August 2013 – present 		Succeeded by

Russia Yuliya Yefimova
Incumbent
Preceded by
Russia Yuliya Yefimova		 Women's 100 m breaststroke
European record holder (long course)
29 July 2012 – 8 June 2013
8 June 2013 – present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
Germany Janne Schäfer		 Women's 50 m breaststroke
European record holder (short course)
12 December 2012 – present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
Denmark Rikke Møller-Pedersen		 Women's 100 m breaststroke
European record holder (short course)
15 December 2012 – present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Awards
Preceded by
Poland Tobiasz Lis		 Best European Young Athlete of the Year
2012, 2013 		Succeeded by
Italy Simone Sabbioni
Preceded by
Lithuania Laura Asadauskaitė		 Lithuanian Sportsman of the Year
2012, 2013 		Succeeded by
Incumbent