Rūta Meilutytė promised to give her gold medal to her grandmother after winning a third straight 50m breaststroke title at the World Championships in Doha. Rūta did the three-peat in Doha to add to her golds at Budapest 2022 and Fukuoka 2023 and she now has five titles among eight world medals, dating back to 2013 when she was 16.
Rūta lived with her grandmother Aldona while she was a child before moving to Plymouth College in Great Britain.
She became 100m breaststroke champion two years later at London 2012 and now has Olympic, world and European titles among her extensive collection.
She expressed her pride at representing Lithuania on the podium and made that promise to her gran, saying “It’s really exciting and inspiring to be on the stage while representing Lithuania. “It’s always a matter of pride to represent my country at the World Championships. Lithuanian fans are the best, very bright country, it’s always a pleasure to be on the podium with such fans in support. My grandmother admired my medals and this medal is going to be a gift for her.”
Rūta retired in May 2019 before making her comeback in late 2021 since when she has won global and continental titles and set long and short-course 50m breaststroke world records.
The 100m breaststroke short-course standard which was subsequently twice matched by Alia Atkinson still stands today.
Next up is Paris 2024 where she will look to reclaim the Olympic title, 12 years after her triumph in London.
Rūta has negotiated a long and winding path since being elevated to the pinnacle of her sport at 15 and one that has taken in highs, lows and highs once more.
“I think coming back with a lot of experience has always helped me”, said Rūta.
“I’m proud of how far I have come and the journey I have been a part of.”
