18-year-old M. Variakojytė from Kaunas made her Olympic debut during the short dance program, where she scored 53.86 points, placing 27th out of 29 participants. Despite the ranking, S. Ambrulevičius, a fellow Lithuanian and experienced figure skater, expressed great joy and pride in her performance, emphasizing how she left everything on the ice. He remarked on the significance of the moment, highlighting the joy and sense of achievement it brought to both Variakojytė and her supporters.

Ambrulevičius played a crucial supportive role during this historic event, as he stood beside M. Variakojytė after her performance. Together with legendary figure skating coach Lilija Vanagiene, he took on a temporary coaching role for the skater, stepping in after her original coach, Raimo Reinsalu, was suspended due to a scandal surrounding this Olympics. This unique situation brought additional pressure, yet Ambrulevičius seemed confident in his ability to support Variakojytė through this pivotal moment in her athletic career.

Reflecting on the experience, S. Ambrulevičius noted that he felt little nervousness while watching Variakojytė's performance, attributing this to his previous experiences stepping into coaching roles. He acknowledged that the Olympic stage was significant, and he wanted to ensure that Meda felt supported throughout her debut. His role not only showcased the camaraderie present in Lithuania's sports community, but it also underscored the resilience of athletes facing adversity, as Variakojytė navigated her Olympic journey with newfound support and ambition.