Lithuania at the Olympics

Lithuania, after declaring restoration of independence from the Russian Empire in 1918, sent its athletes to the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris for the first time. At first it was considered to send 33 athletes, but then it was decided to limit the delegation to 13 soccer players and 2 cyclists. The soccer players arrived in Paris only a day before the game was scheduled. Lithuania debuted at the Olympic games on May 25, 1924 at 2:40pm (Paris time) when the match between Lithuanian and Swiss teams started. Lithuania lost 9-0 (4-0). The cyclists could not finish the 188 km race because of technical difficulties.

In 1928 Summer Olympics Lithuania had 12 representatives for 4 sports: 2 boxers, 4 cyclists, and 5 athletics and one weightlifter. Juozas Vinča achieved the best results and took 5-7 place in boxing.

In 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California Lithuania did not participate due to economic difficulties and political controversies surrounding the National Olympic CommitteeFact|date=August 2008. In 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin Lithuania was not invited by Germany due to Memelland/Klaipėda region controversy. In 1940 Lithuania lost its independence to the Soviet Russia. After the war Lithuanians participated in the Olympic games with the Soviet Union team. From 1952 to 1988, 86 Lithuanians participated in the Olympics and won 60 medals (57 in Summer and 3 in Winter Olympics).

After declaring independence in 1990 Lithuania did not miss any Olympic games.

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Medalists

ummer Olympics

References

* [http://www.eurolympic.org/jahia/Jahia/cache/offonce/pid/379?language=eng The European Olympic Committees]
* [http://www.olimpiada.lt/default.aspx?Element=Articles&DL=&TopicID=6&CountryID=&SportID=&ContestID=&LocationID=&TeamID=&AthleteID=&ArticleID=76740&Page=1&SearchTXT= Olimpiada.lt]