L. Vanagienė, at the age of 77, currently serves as the general director of the Lithuanian Skating Federation and has taken on the role of temporary coach for Meda Variakojytė, who made her Olympic debut in figure skating in Milan. Vanagienė stepped in after the regular coach, Raimo Reinsalu from Estonia, was suspended due to a scandal involving shaking in coaching practices. She expressed confidence in Variakojytė, noting that the pressure the young skater was under was immense and could have overwhelmed other athletes.

During the women's figure skating competition, Variakojytė achieved her best score of the season with 53.86 points in the short program, marking a significant milestone as she became the first Lithuanian woman to compete at the Olympics in this discipline. Vanagienė praised Variakojytė's resilience and the progress she made throughout the training sessions leading up to the event, indicating that the skater's performance peaked precisely during the crucial last days.

The situation underscores a pivotal moment for Lithuanian figure skating, with Variakojytė's participation in the Olympics not only breaking new ground for women in the sport but also highlighting the challenges athletes face amidst external pressures and controversies. The temporary coaching arrangement and the athlete's remarkable composure reflect broader themes in sports regarding mentorship, resilience, and the emotional strain on athletes competing on the world stage.