Lithuania ‘s first medal in Tokyo – a modern pentathlon veteran wins silver / Article

Lithuanian athlete Laura Asadauskaite-Zadneprovskiene won a silver medal in modern pentathlon on Friday, which became Lithuania’s first medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games. The 37-year-old athlete, who also has the title of London Olympic champion, made an impressive play this time, as he was far behind the leaders before the last discipline.

Asadauskaite – Zadneprovskiene and another Lithuanian athlete Gintare Venčkauskaite had a rather unsuccessful fencing and swimming competition.

She rode much better, where the Lithuanians showed the first and second best results, however, before the last discipline Asadauskaite – Zadneprovskiene was only in 13th place, but Venčkauskaite took 24th place.

In modern pentathlon, the last discipline is running cross, combined with shooting, similar to winter sports in biathlon. The shooting range must be fired with a laser gun.

Asadauskaite-Zadneprovskiene was 52 seconds behind the leader before the last discipline, but excelled in both shooting and running, showing the best result in this discipline. This allowed her to move up to second place and win a silver medal. Venčkauskaite also started very well in the last discipline, showing the second best time after Asadauskaite-Zadneprovskiene. This allowed her to move from 24th to 7th place at the finish.

Laura Asadauskaite takes on #silver for #LTU in the women’s #ModernPentathlon.#StrongerTogether | #Tokyo2020 | @WorldPentathlon pic.twitter.com/JbCk9gySvJ

— Olympics (@Olympics) August 6, 2021

The gold medal was won by the British athlete Kate French, but the bronze was won by the Hungarian athlete Sarolta Kovacs, who was two seconds behind Asadauskaite-Zadneprovskiene.

Lithuanian media describe the silver medal won by Asadauskaite-Zadneprovskiene as an “Olympic miracle”, because in May she fell ill with Covid-19, but a month before the start of the Olympic Games she was injured by falling from a horse.

For Asadauskaite-Zadneprovskiene, this was already the fourth Olympic Games. In 2012, she became the Olympic champion in London.

The Lithuanian delegation has so far been very unsuccessful at the Tokyo Olympics. The Lithuanian men’s basketball team, which has always been among the medal candidates, did not go to the final tournament at all.

There was a risk that Lithuania could repeat Latvia’s failure at the Rio Olympics this time, leaving without medals, but two days before the end of the competition, Asadauskaite-Zadneprovskiene won the much-anticipated medal.

Finally! #Lithuania has silver Olympic medal! A wonderful smile of Laura #Asadauskaite hides iron will and perseverance. Bravo Laura! Thank you! Ačiū! #TokyoOlympic pic.twitter.com/GM8okPr6MK

– Linas Linkevicius (@LinkeviciusL) August 6, 2021

For the time being, Latvia and Estonia have two medals at the Olympic Games: Estonia has gold a bronza fencing competitions, while for Latvia gold medal was won by a 3×3 men’s basketball team, bet bronze was won by weightlifter Artūrs Plēsnieks.

Latvian beach volleyball players Mārtiņš Pļaviņš and Edgars Točs on Saturday morning early, at 4 pm Latvian time will fight for a bronze medal, struggling with Qatar beach volleyball across Sheriff / Ahmed.

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