Maybe that’s why she chose to study medicine next to her sports career, besides, she often works as a lifeguard at the sea in the summers and has already rescued more than one drowning vacationer from the clutches of death.
Now the sports professional is preparing for more than one serious championship, which will take place not only in Lithuania, but also abroad.
“I try to promote the name of Lithuania and Klaipėda with my sports achievements,” says the active Klaipėda woman.
Monika, I am always pleasantly surprised by people who have many activities. How do you seem to keep up with everything? So I will ask simply – where do you get so much energy and gunpowder?
I am quite disciplined, having developed certain abilities to combine different things over time, and it was sports since childhood that disciplined my life a lot. Sometimes it’s not easy to keep up with everything, but it’s important to find a balance in all activities so that things don’t get overwhelmed.
Can it be said that your main activity is sports walking? Tell us how you got hooked on this sport? How many years have you been doing sports?
Currently, sports walking is one of my main activities. In addition to training, I am still actively studying general practice nursing at the Klaipėda College of Social Sciences (SMK) and I am practicing as a nurse in emergency medical care.
And sports walking hooked me very simply. I have been active and sporty since childhood. Noticing this, the coaches invited me to training, from which all my sports activities began. I started training professionally, the loads increased, the results improved. That’s how I got “infected” with sports walking. After graduating from school, I entered Klaipėda University, I chose a bachelor’s degree in physical activity and sports pedagogy, and then a master’s degree. While studying, I continued to train for the upcoming starts, which accompany me to this day. Only now – in other activities and sciences.
So I’ve been doing sports for over 15 years.
The season starts again from April – you will participate in various championships almost every month. Does it take a lot of energy to prepare for them?
The season started from February, and from April – various international competitions. Every competition requires proper preparation. I train every day. And before the competition, it is a bit more intense. All this requires both physical and psychological efforts, which I give today to sports and to the promotion of Lithuania and the city. But I’m only human, so I try to balance everything and find a balance.
What is your proudest sporting achievement to date?
The very first achievement was the fulfillment of the Olympic norm in the distance of 20 km of sports walking, the achievement of the distinction of international master of sports, a Lithuanian record. Later, in 2023, she won the title of Lithuanian indoor champion and won the gold medal of the Lithuanian sports walking championship in the Olympic distance of 20 kilometers in the same year.
And what are the sporting expectations and challenges?
The expectations are quite simple – to do everything to the best of my ability and abilities. And the challenge is every training and every start in the competition.
I wonder how your training is going. Every day? What time is it? Where do you train?
I usually do sports from early in the morning. I train practically every day on the cycling and walking paths by the Dane River and in the athletics arena. Usually one day’s training takes about 3 hours in total. or a little longer. I give a lot of my energy and strength in the first training session. As a result, I often feel tired during the day. In this case, it is very important to slow down, find time for at least half an hour of daytime sleep (“restart”), eat properly and go to rest on time.
Sometimes I change the monotonous load of sports walking to another physical load. For example, I choose running, swimming training in the pool or cycling training.
Despite your serious employment in sports, you also find time for studies – you study general nursing. How do you feel in this sphere?
Studying is going well. I am a freshman in the second semester. Studying is not easy, but it is definitely worth the effort. I am interested in studying medicine. I also like to nurse people and take care of them. At the moment, I have successfully completed the first semester of studies and completed my internship in one of Klaipėda’s hospitals. This is completely different compared to my sports activities. But I feel my heart is leaning there.
I wonder if the attitude towards the work of a doctor changed when you encountered it in practice?
Didn’t change. During the internship, I really got to see and learn a lot from the excellent team of the hospital. I am extremely grateful to everyone who helped me improve and learn to perform my duties well. During the internship, I became even more convinced that I want to help people and that this choice of my studies is the right one.
What do you think is the hardest thing about being a doctor?
I will probably be able to answer this question more concretely when I finish my studies and work in this field.
And what makes you happy and heartwarming in this area?
I feel great joy when I can help others. When I see a look full of gratitude, and if a person can and hear words of gratitude, it brings joy and hope.
You have been working as a lifeguard at the sea for several summers, will we see you there this summer as well?
This year is very important in sports activities. Important international competitions are expected both at this stage and during the summer, so I cannot answer this question yet. I think time and circumstances will tell.
I read that you have already saved the life of more than one drowning person. What emotions do you feel when you realize that you have saved someone’s life?
I try not to make a big deal out of it because it was my duty. I did my job and I’m happy that those people can go on with their lives without more serious injuries. I am happy that all the rescue operations I have been involved in, which were quite different in their circumstances, have been successful. I learned from these experiences that everything is very fragile.
I think that it is very important not to get distracted when saving drowning people, because even the best swimmer or even a lifeguard can drown.
Maybe you have to tell stories, how saved people thank you, maybe keep in touch with you?
Most of the time, the rescued people are from other cities or countries, so after the events we receive simple praise on social networks.
I wonder if such active people find time to rest? Do you need it? And what does Monika’s rest hours look like?
Probably, each person works as well as he can. I often meet very active people or hear their stories, but I don’t compare myself to a super active woman. And I need rest like everyone else. I love the peace I get from walking and enjoying nature. I like meaningful movies with more thoughts than action. I don’t neglect reading either, I choose articles and books that expand my outlook and knowledge.
You are a person of faith and pray often. Did you get it from family, or was there an event where you discovered the gift of faith?
Faith is a personal thing and when you have a personal encounter with God, it is natural that there should be a conversation, which we call prayer. The journey of faith has various stages. And I am in one of them.
You came to Klaipėda from a small town, or do you already call the port city your home? How do you feel here, what do you like and dislike here?
I came to Klaipėda in 2016, where I entered the university to study physical activity and sports pedagogy as a bachelor’s and master’s degree. Klaipėda is very dear to me, I feel great here. This city has a unique atmosphere of freedom. I like its beautiful and cozy old town. I love the views of the sea and the refreshment it gives to the city and its citizens on hot summer days. Can’t say there’s anything fundamentally wrong with it. I am happy that Klaipėda is becoming more beautiful and renewed.
How do you see yourself in the future? Which activity do you think will come out on top?
I think time will put everything in its place. And I will try to listen to the voice of my heart.
