Near misses make success sweeter for golden Greta

For visually-impaired Greta Streimikyte, a world title is not closure but a beginning - and a platform for the next chapter of a career defined as much by resilience as by medals

Paralympian and world gold medalist Greta Streimikyte poses for a portrait ahead of Allianz NextGen which is taking place on November 30th at the National Indoor Arena in Dublin. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Greta Streimikyte has come to value the long road as much as the destination after converting years of Paralympic disappointment into a World Para Athletics title - and insists she would not wish away any part of the journey that brought her there.

The 30-year-old, one of Ireland’s most consistent performers in Para middle-distance running, has endured a series of narrow misses on the sport’s biggest stage.

Fourth on her Paralympic debut in Rio, fifth in Tokyo and fourth again in Paris last summer following an injury-hampered build-up, her proximity to the podium had become a recurring theme.

Yet those near-misses never deterred her. Instead, they were offset by the European successes that followed her early years competing for Ireland; bronze in 2016 on her European debut, then gold medal-winning displays at that level in 2018 and 2021.

Those achievements sustained her through the more difficult campaigns and kept her returning to major championships with renewed intent.

In New Delhi on September 28, Streimikyte finally enjoyed the podium breakthrough she was chasing. Her victory in the T13 1500m was decisive - she controlled the race from the gun and set a tone she never relinquished.

“Oh yeah, I cry every time,” she laughed, reflecting on how frequently those near-misses had weighed on her.

“Paris was actually the time I cried the least - I was probably getting used to it at that stage. It was a tough year behind the scenes. People don’t see that part.” 

Born in Lithuania and having moved to Dublin with her family in 2010, Streimikyte became an Irish citizen in 2015 and immediately asserted herself at European level. But it was the world stage and the Paralympic podium that remained elusive - until this season. That's not to say that she hadn't enjoyed the journey all along the way.

“It’s not an easy place to be,” she said. “When you’re in the same position for eight years, you ask yourself, ‘Will I ever get there?’ 

“But the older you get, the more you understand that the journey matters. People focus on medals, but I wouldn’t change anything. If success comes too easily, it doesn’t carry the same weight. The setbacks make it sweeter.” 

The significance of the achievement struck her most forcefully on the podium at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in a time of 4:39.62. Not the European record she wanted, but it didn't matter one bit.

"The plan was there and then you just try and execute it as best as you can," she reasoned. "And if you execute the plan, then it's a big chance that you will get the result that you want. Not guaranteed, but there's a chance.

"I was like, 'okay, just hit it hard'. I'm used to doing that. I do it a lot of times in the major championships and it works for me, I love doing that and I feel confident doing it. Just go for it and see what happens...'from the gun to the tape Greta, that's your job, that's what you need to do'.

“The reality is, why do we want to win? It’s because the national anthem plays only if you win. That was the feeling I had with the European golds, and it was the same in India. I hadn’t had that feeling in a long time.” 

The disappointments, she believes, shaped her competitiveness and sharpened her perspective. “It took going through all of that to become a better athlete,” she said. “I’m happy with the timing - it happened when it was meant to. If you keep showing up, eventually the opportunity presents itself.” 

Streimikyte, who is visually impaired, was speaking ahead of the Allianz NextGen event on Sunday, November 30 at the National Indoor Arena in Abbotstown. It is an initiative that has already helped produce athletes including Paralympic bronze medallist Niamh McCarthy, Jordan Lee, Katie O’Brien and Tiarnan O’Donnell.

Her own ambitions have not dimmed. With a coaching change following Paris - Paul Byrne has come on board following her move from the Dublin Track Club - she has begun her preparations for Los Angeles 2028.

Working two days a week in leverage finance with AIB, she returned to training later than most of her team-mates after a nine-day trip around India with fellow world champion Orla Comerford - including a memorable visit to the Taj Mahal - but her attention is already fixed firmly on the seasons ahead.

“I feel like the gold-medal moment has passed,” she said. “It was amazing, but now it feels like a long time ago. Still, it took me a while to get there, and I’ll always have it.

“But the journey doesn’t end there. You’re still trying to improve and get faster. I don’t see it as a boost, more a reminder of what’s possible.

"Time doesn’t stand still. Athletes improve, new people come in. Just because I won gold now doesn’t mean I’ll win it again. It doesn’t work like that.” 

For Streimikyte, the world title is not closure but a beginning - a marker of progress and a platform for the next chapter of a career defined as much by resilience as by medals.