Neringa Stepanauskaitė, who is just 17 years old, is about to make her Olympic debut as the youngest member of Lithuania's delegation at the Winter Games taking place in Cortina d'Ampezzo. She is scheduled to begin her runs today, with the first descending rounds starting at 11 AM, where she will be the 71st to compete amongst 76 athletes. The competitive nature of the event has already been showcased, as the first ten athletes to complete the course achieved remarkably close times, prompting a tie for first place among three competitors.

As Stepanauskaitė prepares for her competition, she expresses a mix of calmness and anticipation. She acknowledges that while she isn't feeling overly nervous at the moment, she expects the excitement to hit her on the day of the event. This kind of pressure is common among athletes leading up to significant competitions like the Olympics. Stepanauskaitė's performance will be one of great interest as she competes alongside elite athletes, reflecting a significant moment in her young sporting career and in the representation of Lithuania at the Winter Games.

The race she will be competing in is held at the Tofano ski center, located near one of the host cities of the Olympics, showcasing an impressive racecourse that is 1300 meters long with a vertical drop of 395 meters. This competition not only highlights the skills of Stepanauskaitė but also the growing presence of young talent from Lithuania in the international sports arena, providing inspiration for future generations of athletes.