Knowing the evenings in Taihu, here is a conversation with Neringa Aidietyte on the last years women walk in Lithuania

1.- Tell us something about the women's race walk in Lithuania in past years

Women's elite race walking in Lithuania in a past few years got into new highs. Very good years were 2009-2011, when Kristina Saltanovič  won a bronze medal in European Cup in Metz in 2009, finished twice 8th in 2009 and 2011 World Championships and 7th in European Championships in 2010 respectively.

In London Olympics 3 women race walkers represented Lithuania on 20 km: Kristina Saltanovič finishing in 21st (1:31.04), Brigita Virbalytė-Dimšienė in 26th (1:31.58) and Neringa Aidietytė (myself) in 39th positions (1:34.01) respectively.

2.- Analyze your results in the year 2013.

Year 2013 was an average for Lithuanian women race walkers. In World Championships in Moscow there were now a "regular trio" of Kristina Saltanovič. Brigita Virbalytė and Neringa Aidietytė. The highest position went to Brigita Virbalytė, finishing in 20th position (1:31.58), 21st finished Kristina Saltanovic (1:32.11) and myself in 40th (1:34.32). Ladies didn't outperformed themselves or failed to achieve good positions: all of them were close to their best achievements. 

3.- Now we talk of 2014

2014 was a whole new story. Myself, after living, working and training in London for 4.5 years, have decided to come back to Lithuania for a full-time training and focusing on preparation for 2016 Olympic Games. Already in my first competition in Lugano Trophy event (March of 2014) I achieved a new PB with 1:32.22. Next race was a month later in Podebrady (Czech Republic) where I finished 3rd with again new PB of 1:30.54. In May followed Race Walking World Cup in Taicang. Usual "trio" of K. Saltanovič, B. Virbalytė (both of them were back in action after suffering injuries earlier that year) and myself. Coming to this race Lithuanian Team was fearing hot conditions in China (usually in Lithuania May is still relatively cold). But it proved there was nothing to be scared of. The race day arrived with cooled off conditions so it was a good race to fight for good positions and high results. I broke the National record with the new on of 1:29.37 and placing in 23rd position. Just a week before World Cup she walked 10 km in local race in Lithuania and achieving her new PB with 44:15. 

Brigita Virbalytė finished 34th with SB (1:31.24) and Kristina Saltanovic in 43rd with SB as well (1:32.58). Lithuanian team was 7th in overall team rankings. 

Another women's 20 km race walking National record was broken in June in annual Alytus Race walking festival, which was celebrating 40th edition. I presented a nice gift for Lithuanian race walking community breaking her 5-weeks old 20 km race walking National record in 1:29.01. I also became a Lithuanian Champion. Brigita Virbalytė finished 3rd (and second in National Championships) with new SB in 1:31.00 and missed her PB by only 5 seconds! Kristina Saltanovič also arrived from Portugal to race in National Championship but due to injury she retired from the race.

Next it was solid two months of training and preparing for European Championships in Zurich. Unfortunately, Kristina Saltanovič, due to injury, withdrew herself from the team so it was only two women from Lithuania on the start line in Zurich. Me and Brigita Virbalytė decided to experiment and came to race on the 2nd day coming down from the training in the altitude in Livigno (Italy). Well, it didn't go well as they hoped for. I finished in 11th position with the result of 1:30.47 and Brigita finished in 18th position in 1:32.46. 

Even though it was a disappointing European Championships, Brigita Virbalyte made up for her poor performance two weeks later in Gdansk, Poland, bettering Lithuanian 10 km race walking record, which belonged to Kristina Saltanovic, by 17 seconds and winning the race in overall. She continued to show her top form a week later in Race walking meeting in Katowice, Poland, once again bettering 10 km National record in 43.13. 

4.- And finally we talk of 2015 

2015 seems to be a year of Brigita Virbalytė. She started racing quite late in the season taking an unexpected victory in Podebrady in SB of 1:31.10. I have already dipped my foot in racing that season with a disappointing performance in IAAF Challenge in Dudince, finishing 6th with 1:31.21. I was hoping for another PB and National record since last season was outstanding for me and putting extra hard work in winter preparations but falling ill with severe cold and cough in early March, as did Brigita Virbalyte who had more time to recover, before first race that season.

European Race walking cup in May (Murcia, Spain) was another good performance for Lithuanian women race walkers. I finished in 12th position with SB of 1:30.20 and Brigita Virbalyte in 14th with new PB of 1:30.37. Unfortunately, Kristina Saltanovic retired from the race. 

Brigita Virbalyte was showing a great form leading to annual Race walking festival in Alytus in June and it seemed like the race was about  to have a new winner. But unfortunately, she fell ill just a day before a race and couldn't show what she was capable of. I obtain the victory for a second year in a row (it's a first for this festival), as in men's category as well. It was a bit of lonely walk for me since no woman put a fight and tried to walk with myself. I relied on men walkers but even they couldn't accompany myself for a better result. I recorded a new SB with 1:30.02. Brigita showed her outstanding will and not feeling well she finished the race in 1:36:47, well outside her best performance that season. Kristina  once again was plagued by an injury and didn't even make it to the start line. 

5.- How did the World Championships for Lithuanian women ?

World Championship in Beijing proved to be a bittersweet for Lithuanian women race walkers. Kristina Saltanovic didn't want to risk her health for next year's Olympics and withdrew from the team. So it was again just two Lithuanian women on the start line in Beijing. I was struggling with her performance in trainings all summer so she was just hoping to finish in top 20. Brigita was very humble and also was hoping for the best top 20 finish. But what a surprise her performance came out to be! In very hot conditions that day she achieved PB with 1:30.20 and finished in 7th place! It is a highest position so far for all Lithuanian race walkers in World Championships. 

I had, unfortunately, a horrible day: disqualified after 14 km. 

But it wasn't the end of the season for these two walkers. A week later Brigita once again was showing what a great form she's in and achieved a new national record on 10 km in race walking event in Katowice, Poland. She won the event in 42:43. I also proved that I hadn't lost my fitness and finished 3rd in the race with her new PB of 44.09. I continued to demonstrate my good form a week later in running half marathon in 1:18.16 and finishing second in my hometown's Vilnius running event.

6.- The final part of your season ?

Brigita Virbalyte topped off her great season with winning 3rd place in 4-day race walking competition around lake Taihu in China. She finished 3rd in 3 stages of the race and that guaranteed her a podium place in the overall standings and 3rd place for her team which consisted of myself, the Hungarian Viktoria Madarasz and the Polish Agnieszka Dygacz. 

Neringa Aidietytė