Lithuania awaits first medal

VILNIUS - Two Lithuanians have won medals in the winter Olympics. But none has done it under the Lithuanian national flag. This year, just eight Lithuanian athletes will go to Salt Lake City in a bid to bring home that elusive medal.

In all, the Lithuanian delegation to the Olympics is a contingent of 30, a top-notch team of coaches and doctors, as well as the eight athletes themselves.

The team includes the graceful figure skaters Margarita Drobiazko and Povilas Vanagas, biathlon competitors Liutauras Barila and Diana Rasimaviciute, and cross-country skiers Ricardas Panavas, Vadimas Gusevas, Vladislovas Zybailo and Irina Terentjeva.

This will be the fourth winter Olympics for veteran cross-country skier Panavas, and the fourth for Drobiazko and Vanagas. While Panavas is a top 20 hopeful, Drobiazko and Vanagas could very well contend for a medal.

Last year, the pair won bronze in the grand prix finals in Canada, as well as bronze in the 2000 European and world championships. They have won eight consecutive Lithuanian national championships, from their conception in 1992 until 1999, the last year they took part.

They are currently participating in the European championship in Lausanne, Switzerland, which hopefully should finish before the Olympics begin.

As Lithuanians hold their breath during the figure skating, they could see a few surprises from 17-year-old prospects who could hold the key to the future of cross-country skiing - Irina Terentjeva - and biathlon - Diana Rasimaviciute. They are only expected to finish somewhere in the middle, but they will certainly be gaining valuable experience.

According to Vytautas Zubernis, secretary general of the Lithuanian Olympic Committee, any gold medal winners will receive $100,000. Undisclosed lesser sums await the winners of silver and bronze.