Feb 14 • 17:59 UTC 🇱🇹 Lithuania Lrytas

J. Traubaitė did not overcome even with her limping health: 'The result did not correlate with how I felt'

Lithuanian athlete J. Traubaitė reflects on her Olympic debut, expressing disappointment despite her effort due to health issues that plagued her performance.

Lithuanian athlete J. Traubaitė recently participated in her Olympic debut held in Milan and Cortina, where she highlighted her struggle with health issues affecting her performance. Despite her desire to qualify for the pursuit, she was uncertain throughout the competition. In her personal race, she completed the distance in 23 minutes and 0.2 seconds, falling significantly behind the winner, Norway's Maren Kirkeeide, who displayed flawless shooting skills. Traubaitė noted that despite achieving clean rounds in recent competitions, she faced challenges in qualifying for the pursuit event.

During the event, she received support from fans who were present at the ongoing World Cup stages nearby, which may have encouraged her throughout the race weekend. Her performance did not meet her expectations but reflects a significant experience as a debut Olympian. The event organizers greeted all participating athletes with roses as a gesture of appreciation, marking a festive atmosphere around Valentine's Day, which likely motivated many competitors, including Traubaitė.

Although Traubaitė fell short of medaling, her performance as a young athlete in a high-pressure environment like the Olympics could pave the way for future competitions, especially as she seeks to improve her skills. Her honest reflections on feeling out of sync with her performance serve as a reminder of the physical and mental challenges athletes face, particularly in an event of such high stakes.

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