Daina Gudzinevičiūtė dedicated 34 years to Olympic Trap shooting, culminating in a gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Since 2012, she has led Lithuania's National Olympic Committee and holds key positions as Vice-President of the European Olympic Committee (EOC) and a distinguished member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). In 2017, she started collaborating with the British Council's 'Dreams & Teams' initiative, aimed at fostering leadership skills among youth through sports.
‘Imagine children organising mini-Olympics for their school or community—planning games, award ceremonies, and tackling challenges together', Daina explains. '"Dreams & Teams” is both fun and educational, empowering children to become confident and capable leaders.'
Sports are pivotal in helping youth explore and maximise their potential. ‘Participation in sports builds confidence, as young people set and achieve goals and get to witness their growth firsthand’ Daina emphasises. ‘They also learn teamwork and leadership skills and experience the positive impacts on their physical and mental well-being.’
Daina reflects on how her Olympic journey enriched her own character. ‘Achievements and setbacks alike teach you resilience and perseverance’, she shares. ‘Consistency and purpose are crucial in achieving goals, whether in professional sports or a career.’
Daina’s path towards the post of the National Olympic Committee president was the result of consistent interest and involvement in sports policy even since her professional athlete’s career. ‘Knowing the cost of competing at a highest level by myself makes much easier working in National Olympic Committee.’
Daina's journey to the presidency of the National Olympic Committee reflects her unwavering dedication, deep involvement in sports since her days as a professional athlete and firsthand experience of the demands of elite competition.
Promoting the benefits of sports and the Olympic movement remains paramount to Daina. The skills cultivated through sports—goal-setting, resilience, and personal development— are 'invaluable in everyday life and will help develop your personality’, she concludes.