Antanas Mikėnas race walking competition in Birštonas: to remember, to interest, to inspire

The competition was opened and the winners were awarded by Birštonas City Vice-Mayor Vytas Kederys, Birštonas Sports Center Deputy Director - Coach Aurimas Liuiza, Athletics Federation representative Aurelijus Žiedas, and Eglė Mikėnaitė-Juodeikienė, daughter of the legendary A. Mikėnas.

The winners of the Antanas Mikėnas Memorial were:

1 km distance (children born in 2014 and younger): Grėtė Garkauskaitė (Kaunas) and Daniel Beganskij (Švenčionys)

1 km distance (girls, 2012-2013): Sara Al Bakri (Kaunas)

3 km distance (youth, 2010-2011): Laura Nesteckytė (Kaunas)

3 km distance (women, veterans): Vita Ormane (Latvia)

3 km (boys, 2012-2013): Wojciech Grinholc (Poland)

5 km distance (juniors, 2008-2009): Justė Andrijauskaitė (Šiauliai)

5 km distance (juniors, 2010-2011): Viktoras Petryla (Kėdainiai-Krakiai)

5 km distance (juniors, 2008-2009): Libertas Kuliesa (Birštonas)

5 km distance (men, veterans): Normunds Ivzans (Latvia)

10 km distance (girls, 2006-2007): Armanda Tolytė (Birštonas)

10 km distance (women): Modra Liepiņa (Latvia)

10 km distance (youth, 2006-2007): Liudas Grincevičius (Švenčionys)

10 km distance (men): Tadas Šuškevičius (Vilnius)

The A. Mikėnas race walking competition is not only one of the oldest and most important sports traditions in Birštonas, but is also significant for the history of sports in Lithuania as a whole. This event has been honoring the memory of Antanas Mikėnas, the first high-performance athlete in Lithuania, for many years. A. Mikėnas is a Lithuanian walker, multiple national champion and record holder, who won a silver medal in the 20 km distance at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. A. Mikėnas was the first and so far the only Lithuanian race walker to win an Olympic medal.

The uniqueness of the race walking competitions organized in Birštonas is the unique format of the event, based on sensitive and solemn symbolism: honoring a sports legend and the unity of generations of athletes. For many years, the event has been started with the so-called "Nostalgia Walk" - a 500-meter section is overcome together by coaches, former athletes and sports lovers. Later, the atmosphere of the competition is instantly heated up by the youngest - walkers who are just taking their first sports steps. After them, the older participants take over the course, divided by age groups and distance lengths. This spectacle engages the audience and captivates for almost 3 hours with the concentration, technique and endurance of the athletes.

In 2026, Birštonas will host a special event – the 40th anniversary of the Antanas Mikėnas race walking competition. The resort is expected to welcome an even larger number of participants, attract more athletes from abroad and gather a wider audience. The competition, which is included in the European athletics calendar and is associated with Olympic history, remains significant in the international sports context.

The organizers of the XXXIX International Antanas Mikėnas Race Walking Competition are the Birštonas Sports Center and the Birštonas Antanas Mikėnas Race Walking Club.

Birštonas Sports Center – a multifunctional sports complex opened in 2022, where sports and physical activity activities are developed, sports competitions, celebrations and other mass events are organized. In 2024, the sports center organized 19 republican and 30 municipal competitions, over 2,000 athletes played sports and competed in the center. The sports center carries out programs for initial training in athletics and mastery development. Athletics as a specialized sport has been developed in Birštonas since 1977.

Birštonas Antanas Mikėnas Walking Club was founded in 2002 by athletes, brothers Povilas and Jonas Juozaičiai. More than 50 people of all ages attend the club's classes. In 2004, the club was represented by two athletes: Sonata Milušauskaitė and Daugvinas Zujus at the Athens Olympic Games. The club is a multiple winner and prize-winner of the Lithuanian Race Walking Cup (team competition). Club members have represented the club at the World and European Race Walking Cup competitions.