With just over 50 days to go until Rio 2016, there is one athlete in particular who is counting down the days, hours and minutes.
Greta Streimikyte was announced as part of the Irish team on July 5th, 2016 and now, the Lithuanian-born runner cannot wait to represent her new home on the grandest stage of all in just a few months’ time.
“Achieving that A standard for the Paralympics has been the highlight of my career so far,” she said. “It showed me that I was on the right track and that I have the ability to compete against the best.”
On the right track she was, as she later went on to make her major Championship debut for Ireland at the Para Athletics European Championships in Italy earlier this year, where she won a bronze medal in the T13 1500m when she finished in a time of 4.54.25.
“I am so happy with my achievement and receiving a bronze medal as well as standing on the podium for the very first time!” she said at the time.
“Before the competition it was all about preparing and focusing on the race. I was nervous and excited at the same time as it was my first time racing for Ireland at a major Championships. It was a brilliant opportunity to compete against top athletes, and it was an amazing feeling to be competing for Ireland for the very first time and I was really, really proud and happy to be wearing a green vest on the start line,” she added.
Just one month on from that win, Greta now has Rio firmly in her sights.
“To be on the team now going to Rio is fantastic,” she continued. “I am lucky too, as I am surrounded by an amazing group of athletes with whom it is brilliant to train with,” she said. “I have met a brilliant coach and DCU, where I study, have also been very supportive as too has my running club and of course, Paralympics Ireland.
“Now, I’m just going to focus hard on training and being the best I can be,” she reflected. “Hard work and training is what is needed now, and then it will be all roads to Rio!”
