Greta Streimikyte

Started: She began running at age 17 at Rosmini Community School in Drumcondra, Ireland. (upcoming.ie, 11 Jul 2019; irishtimes.com, 03 May 2016) Reason: Her physical education teacher Sean Gallagher encouraged her to try Para athletics at school. "I was doing physical education classes with able-bodied students. One day, my teacher asked me to compete in an 800m race and I came second. That was the beginning. For me personally, I can 200% say that running made me adapt to the culture in Ireland much quicker because that allowed me to meet new people." (irishmirror.ie, 01 Dec 2022; hersport.ie, 28 Jul 2020; upcoming.ie, 11 Jul 2019; irishtimes.com, 03 May 2016) Ambition: To compete at the Paralympic Games in 2024 and 2028. (irishmirror.ie, 01 Dec 2022) Additional Info: OTHER ACTIVITIES In 2022 she was elected as a board member of the Athletes Commission of Paralympics Ireland. She has served as an ambassador for the Fighting Blindness charity based in Dublin, Ireland, and for Dare to Believe, a campaign organised by the Olympic Federation of Ireland [OFI] to promote sport to children. "I always say if one child takes something out of it, it's already a win." (fightingblindness.ie, 11 Jul 2023; paralympics.ie, 11 Mar 2022; hersport.ie, 28 Jul 2020; upcoming.ie, 11 Jul 2019; daretobelieve.ie, 01 Jan 2019) FROM LITHUANIA TO IRELAND Born in Vilnius, Lithuania, she moved to Ireland at age 15 to live with her father, who had relocated to the country in 2006 for work. She gained Irish citizenship in 2016. "As much as I can remember I was always very excited to come to Ireland. I was always excited by something new and seeing how things go. Maybe for my family it was harder, maybe for my friends it was harder because I was leaving. I had my brother and my sister, we were all in the same boat and I think we supported each other through it. I think that made it easier. I'm proud to be Lithuanian and the passport doesn't really change that. At the same time, I love Ireland. I started running when I was in Ireland. People support me, people coach me, people are there for me in Ireland. I wanted to run for Ireland. Even now, I'm probably going to live the rest of my life here." (irishmirror.ie, 01 Dec 2022; hersport.ie, 28 Jul 2020; upcoming.ie, 11 Jul 2019; irishtimes.com, 03 May 2016) DOCUMENTARY In July 2017 a documentary about her life titled 'Greta' premiered at Galway Film Fleadh in Ireland. The film follows her life from being born in Lithuania up to her preparations ahead of the 2017 World Championships. (independent.ie, 08 Jul 2017) FURTHER EDUCATION She has studied for a master's degree in business management at Dublin City University [DCU] Business School in Ireland. (upcoming.ie, 11 Jul 2019)