Vaitkaitis, obscured by the shadow of Pukelis: the actions of the last day were decisive

At Friday’s General Assembly session, 17 LTOK members voted for E. Vaitkaitis, and D. Gudzinevičiūtė, re-elected for the third term, received 49 votes.

“It just came to our attention then. And 17 votes is not a victory. What changed your leg? It is difficult to say that it is not a sporting event here. Perhaps the actions of the last day were decisive,” the candidate from 40 years after the vote at the Litexpo Palace in Vilnius.

– What do you mean by the President’s letter of agitation distributed to LTOK members?

– Letter and letters from public relations agencies and some articles.

– Do you think that Arūnas Pukelis, vice president of the Lithuanian Football Federation, who attacked Mr. Gudzinevičiūtė before the vote, did not take away some votes?

– Gal. I have to distance myself from that. Although it turned out he was on my team, we don’t know that person.

– How do you foresee another four years of LTOK during the government of Mr. Gudzinevičiūtė?

– I can not imagine. I think my candidacy has raised some fundamental questions. It won’t be like it used to be. And how that change will come about is a big question.

– Mr. Gudzinevičiūtė says that in eight years he has managed to unite the sports community strongly. What you think?

– I do not know. The same actions from yesterday, I don’t think it’s unification. Perhaps we imagine that unit differently.

– Can you clarify more what were the actions of yesterday?

– I would not do it.

– A. Pukelis supported you. Did you support him in the election of the members of the Executive Committee?

– I don’t know if he supported me, he was probably more against the song than behind me. Did he say it himself? I did not know, I did not know it.

– Did you support it?

– No. I am guided by my internal values, there is also a question of competence.

– What will you do next?

– I think there is a long cool-down time ahead. I may have blocked some of the opportunities for me by racing here. But there is no way that all is lost. Choosing LTOK was not my life’s purpose. I don’t think anyone has lost that here, just a win. Perhaps that courage and determination of mine will open another door for you.

– The only candidate for the position of president of LPF, Tomas Kučinskas, sees it in his team. Will you accept their invitation?

– I will definitely consider it because it takes work (laughs – Delphi). But I can honestly say, I didn’t think running would cost me so much courage and health, I feel exhausted. On the other hand, it was an infinitely good experience, I met a lot of good people.

We remind you that D. Gudzinevičiūtė was elected president of LTOK for the first time in 2012 in place of her predecessor Artūras Poviliūnas. He then surpassed another Olympic champion, former discus thrower Virgilijus Aleknas, in the elections.

In 2016, Mr. Gudzinevičiūtė secured his second term without running for election.

For his part, E. Vaitkaitis has previously announced that he will no longer hold a new term as president of the Swimming Federation, regardless of the electoral core of LTOK.