Lithuania at the 1998 Winter Olympics

The 1924 Summer Olympics marked Lithuania's first participation in the Olympic Games. The nation made its debut in the Winter Olympics at the 1928 Winter Olympics.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/countries/LTU|title=Lithuania at the Olympics|work=Olympedia|access-date=1 June 2024}} After its debut in 1928, the country did not participate in the Winter Games till the 1992 Games. The Lithuanian National Olympic Committee was recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1991. The country's participation in the 1998 Games marked its fourth appearance at the Winter Olympics.

The 1998 Winter Olympics was held in Nagano, Japan, between 7 and 22 February 1998.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympics.com/en/olympic-games/nagano-1998|title=Nagano 1998|work=Olympics.com|access-date=3 February 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/editions/46|title=1998 Winter Olympics|work=Olympedia|access-date=3 February 2024}} The Lithuanian delegation consisted of seven athletes.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/countries/LTU/editions/46|title=Lithuania at the 1998 Winter Olympics|work=Olympedia|access-date=3 February 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/LTU/winter/1998/|title=Lithuania at 1998 Winter Olympics|work=Sports Reference|access-date=1 June 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417092656/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/LTU/winter/1998/|archive-date=17 April 2020}} Povilas Vanagas served as the country's flag-bearer in the Parade of Nations during the opening ceremony.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/flagbearers?edition_id=46|title=Flag bearers at the 1998 Winter Olympics|work=Olympedia|access-date=3 February 2024}} Lithuania did not win any medal in the Games, and has not won a Winter Olympics medal previously.

Lithuania sent a contingent of seven athletes including two women who competed in four sports at the Games.

{{main|Alpine skiing at the 1998 Winter Olympics}}

Alpine skiing competitions were held at Happo'one, Hakuba.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/editions/46/sports/ALP|title=Alpine skiing|work=Olympedia|access-date=1 June 2024}} Linas Vaitkus represented Lithuania in two events in the men's category. This was Vaitkus's debut in the Winter Games.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympics.com/en/athletes/linas-vatikus|title=Linas Vaitkus|work=Olympics.com|access-date=1 June 2024}} In the Men's downhill event, he finished 25th.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/results/1434|title=Alpine skiing, men's downhill|work=Olympedia|access-date=1 June 2024}} The combined event consisted of two runs of slalom skiing, and a round of downhill skiing. He was not classified as a finisher in the event.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/results/1442|title=Alpine skiing, men's combined|work=Olympedia|access-date=1 June 2024}}{{cite web| title = Nagano 1998 Official Report - Volume 3| url = http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1998/Vol3_e.pdf| publisher = LA84 Foundation| work = Nagano Olympics Organizing Committee| year = 1998| access-date =1 November 2013}}

{{main|Biathlon at the 1998 Winter Olympics}}

Biathlon competitions were held at Nozawa Onsen Resort.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/editions/45/sports/BTH|title=Biathlon|work=Olympedia|access-date=1 June 2024}} The biathlon events consisted of a skiing a specific course multiple times depending on the length of the competition, with intermediate shooting at various positions. For every shot missed, a penalty of one minute is applied in individual events, and the participant is required to ski through a penalty loop in sprint events.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/results/1573|title=Biathlon, men's sprint|work=Olympedia|access-date=1 June 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/results/1574|title=Biathlon, men's individual|work=Olympedia|access-date=1 June 2024}} Liutauras Barila represented the nation in the event.

{{main|Cross-country skiing at the 1998 Winter Olympics}}

Cross-country skiing events were held at Birkebeineren Skistadion.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/results/2046|title=Cross-country skiing, men|work=Olympedia|access-date=1 June 2024}} Three athletes represented the nation, and competed in eight events. Ričardas Panavas achieved a best place finish of 30th in the men's 30 km freestyle event.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/results/2051|title=Results, Cross-country skiing 50 km freestyle men|work=Olympedia|access-date=1 June 2024}} Kazimiera Strolienė achieved a best place finish of 55th in the women's 30 km freestyle event.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/results/2081|title=Results, Cross-country skiing 30 km freestyle women|work=Olympedia|access-date=1 June 2024}}

{{refbegin}}

: ¹ Starting delay based on 10 km results.

{{refend}}

{{main|Figure skating at the 1998 Winter Olympics}}

Figure skating events were held at White Ring, Nagano.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/results/14231|title=Figure skating|work=Olympedia|access-date=1 June 2024}} Margarita Drobiazko and Povilas Vanagas participated in the ice dancing event. This was the couple's third consecutive Olympic appearance.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympics.com/en/athletes/povilas-vanagas|title=Povilas Vanagas|work=Olympics.com|access-date=1 June 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.olympics.com/en/athletes/margarita-drobiazko|title=Margarita Drobiazko|work=Olympics.com|access-date=1 June 2024}} The couples were ranked in ordinal order individually by the judges. At the end of the competition, the ranks are tallied for each pair, and the final placement was based on the majority placement. The Lithuanian pair was ranked 8th in the competition.

{{reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060622162855/http://www.la84foundation.org/5va/reports_frmst.htm Official Olympic Reports]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20200417040452/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/winter/1998/ Olympic Winter Games 1998, full results by sports-reference.com]

{{Nations at the 1998 Winter Olympics}}

Category:Nations at the 1998 Winter Olympics

1998

Winter Olympics