Comeback Swimmer Of The Year: Ruta Meilutyte And A Golden 2022 Of Challenges And Growth

Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania prepares to compete in the 100m Breaststroke Women Final during the FINA Swimming Short Course World Championships at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre in Melbourne, Australia, December 15th, 2022. Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Ruta Meilutyte: Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefotortesy:

Comeback Swimmer Of The Year: Ruta Meilutyte And A Golden 2022 Of Challenges And Growth

Ruta Meilutyte ended 2022 with three gold medals in world and European waters plus a world record, just a year after returning to competition at the Lithuanian National Championships.

Now 25, Meilutyte retired in May 2019, shortly after it was revealed she’d missed three doping tests in a 12-month period which ultimately led to a two-year suspension dating from July that same year.

Seven years prior the Lithuanian had stood at the pinnacle when she was crowned Olympic 100m breaststroke champion at London 2012 aged 15.

World and European titles followed along with global and continental standards but by the time she left the sport, Meilutyte was prioritising self-care and education and took responsibility for her missed tests although FINA – now World Aquatics – handed down the most severe punishment possible.

Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania reacts after compete in the 100m Breaststroke Women Final during the FINA Swimming Short Course World Championships at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre in Melbourne, Australia, December 15th, 2022. Ruta Meilutyte was disqualified after placed second. Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Then in December 2021, she competed at the national championships after which she joined the Lithuania training camp in Tenerife.

At the time, Emilis Vaitkaitis – Secretary General of the Lithuania Swimming Federation – said: “This will be her first attempt to join the national team and try to work a little more seriously” while not looking too far ahead.

Six months later and Meilutyte was back at the top of the global podium, winning the 50br in 29.70 at the World Championships in Budapest while also taking 100m bronze in 1:06.02.

She repeated that feat weeks later at the Europeans in Rome and come December, Meilutyte travelled to Melbourne for the World Short-Course Championships.

She was DQd from the 100 before taking a hefty 0.19secs off Alia Atkinson’s 2018 world record in the 50 semis in 28.37.

On to the final where she claimed the title in 28.50, the second-fastest time in history and 0.59 ahead of silver medallist Lara van Niekerk.

From a national meet to the pinnacle once more, Meilutyte said:

“I am looking back stronger this year as there’s been a huge learning curve. There were lots of challenges but lots of growth as well. I have gained so much and grown so much. I am thankful for everyone around me, we are in this together.

“Although there are horrible things happening in this world it has been a good year for me personally and I am very grateful.

“I am looking forward to what next year brings.”

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