VMU students among the ten best Lithuanian student-athletes in 2023
On December 19th, the Small Hall of Vilnius University hosted an evening honouring and awarding the best Lithuanian student-athletes of 2023. The best Lithuanian student-athletes, who have promoted Lithuanian universities and the country internationally with their achievements and results, were awarded during the annual event.
Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) athletes have made impressive achievements this year: in a variety of sports, from basketball to volleyball and swimming, VMU athletes have distinguished themselves by their talent, perseverance, and stubbornness in pursuit of the highest results.
Kotryna Teterevkova became the best female athlete of VMU and took second place in the top ten of the best Lithuanian student-athletes – the swimmer shone at this year’s World Student Games with a triple triumph and became the champion three times: she won the gold medals in the 100 m and 200 m breaststroke events and the 50 m distance. In addition to becoming the champion, the VMU student also won an Olympic ticket to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and improved her personal career bests. She took 6th place at the World Swimming Championships and three gold medals at the Lithuanian Student Swimming Championships.
Jūras Banys, President of the National Student Volleyball League (NSVL), together with Indre Čelkienė, President of the LSSA, awarded the best indoor volleyball player Viltė Bogdanovič and volleyball player Patrikas Stankevičius. The VMU girls’ volleyball team led by V. Bogdanovič won gold at this year’s NSVL Girls’ Championship, and the athlete was named MVP. In the “Optibet” Baltic Women’s Volleyball League finals, she contributed to the championship title and was among the symbolic top six players. This year, P. Stankevičius and his teammate Audrius Knašas made Lithuanian beach volleyball history – for the first time in Lithuanian history, the men’s duo reached the semi-finals of the “Beach Pro Tour Challenge” series and won bronze medals. The duo also won the title of European University Beach Volleyball Champions.
For the second year in a row, VMU student Rūta Meilutytė was named the best female athlete of the year after becoming the 2023 World Swimming Champion (50 m and 100 m breaststroke), breaking the world record, being named the best swimmer in Europe, and earning a ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
VMU 3×3 men’s basketball team became the best Lithuanian student team of 2023. Led by basketball players Nojus Lebskas, Eimantas Žilius, Augustinas Mikštas, Gabrielius Čelka and team coach Dainius Novickas, the 3×3 team became the winners of the European University Championships and the FISU University World Cup Champions.
Another VMU student, Povilas Stankūnas (rowing), was ranked 4th among the ten Lithuanian student-athletes. He won gold at the World University Games by winning the single boat 2000 meters race.
For excellent results in the 2023 Student Championships and the SELL Student Games, the Head of the VMU Sports Centre, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vladas Juknevičius was awarded.
Photos: The Lithuanian Student Sports Association / Modestas Gailiūnas