Sport in Lithuania
Lithuania is one of the three Baltic states which is located in the northern part of Europe. Lithuania declared independence from the Russian Empire in 1918, but became part of the Soviet Union in 1940. They became an independent nation again in 1990.
This European country has developed great affinity towards the sport of basketball. It is widely considered as their national sport and their national team has garnered significant notoriety in the international stage. They took the EuroBasket in 1937, 1939 as well as in 2003. They have also taken a number of medals from the World Championships and even in the Olympic Games. The country also hosted the EuroBasket in two occasions (1939 and 2011). The legendary team nicknamed Kauno Žalgiris also took the 1999 Euroleague. Lithuania has produced some of the best known European players in the American NBA such as Šarūnas Marčiulionis and Arvydas Sabonis, both of which are Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers.
Lithuanian athletes have been famous in the international circuit for a long time for various sports that includes swimming, athletics, chess, aerobatics, boxing, wrestling, strongman, mixed martial arts (MMA) and other contact sports. Discus thrower Virgilijus Alekna, is considered as one of the most successful athletes produced by Lithuania, taking the gold in Sydney (2000) and Athens (2004) Olympic Games and the bronze in Beijing (2008). He also took a good number of medals in World Championships. Swimmer Rūta Meilutytė is another Lithuanian young blood who has been making waves internationally taking the gold in the 2012 London Games which also spawned the popularity of the sport in her country.
Below are details of sports, sporting events and sports people related to Lithuania. Is there something missing? If you know of something that should be listed here, please let us know.
Popular sports of Lithuania
- Basketball, football (soccer), ice hockey, rugby, swimming, athletics, boxing, wrestling, mixed martial arts (MMA)
Regional or Traditional Sports
- Ritinis — a team sport from Lithuania, played on a football field with goal posts with a puck thrown by bat with a handle and curved elongated end.
Lithuania Sporting Success
- EuroBasket winners in 1937, 1939, 2003
Great athletes from Lithuania
- Virgilijus Alekna (discus)
- Šarūnas Marčiulionis (basketball)
- Arvydas Sabonis (basketball)
Lithuania Sports trivia
- Lithuania first competed at the Olympic Games in 1924.
- Lithuania participated in the Olympic Games as part of the Soviet Union team from 1952 to 1988.
Lithuania at major events
Past sporting events hosted in Lithuania
- World Lithuanian Games (held every 4 years)
- 1939 EuroBasket
- 2011 EuroBasket
Upcoming sporting events in Lithuania
- 2017 10th World Lithuanian Games in Kaunas
Annual sporting events held in Lithuania
Sporting Facilities in Lithuania
- Lithuanian Sports museum, Kaunas Old Town
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