Lithuania competed at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, Netherlands. After the disappointing debut in the 1924 Summer Olympics, Lithuania was better prepared for the games in Amsterdam. In 1926 it organized the first national Olympics (Lithuanian: Lietuvos sporto šventė).[1] Lithuania sent 12 athletes to compete in 4 sports: athletics, boxing, cycling, and weightlifting. The best result was achieved by boxer Juozas Vinča, who shared 5th–8th places.[1] Lithuania did not appear in the Olympics again until after the restoration of independence in 1992.
Haris Šveminas (credited as H. Schwemminas in the official report) competed in men's 100 m and 200 m events. In 100 metres he finished 5th in 12th heat of the first round and did not advance to the semifinals.[2] He shared 63–71 places among 75 competitors.[3] In 200 metres Šveminas was third in the 9th heat, but that was also not enough to advance.[2] In this event he shared 31–44 places among 59 competitors.[3]
Paulina Radziulytė became the first woman to represent Lithuania in the Olympics. She competed in women's 800 metres. She placed last in the 3rd heat and 23rd–24th overall among 25 athletes.[3] She was also registered for 100 metres, but did not enter the competition.[6]
Lithuania was represented by two boxers: Juozas Vinča in the light heavyweight (up to 79.4 kg / 175 lb) and Kazys Markevičius in the lightweight competitions (up to 61.2 kg / 135 lb). Vinča won the first match against Robert Foquet from France and advanced to the quarterfinals. He was then knocked out by Donald McCorkindale from South Africa and eliminated from further competition.[7] Vinča thus shared 5th–8th places with boxers from Canada, Ireland, and Great Britain. Markevičius lost his first game to Georges Carcagne from France and did not advance in the competition.[8]
In cycling Lithuania was represented by four athletes: Isakas Anolikas (also competed in the 1924 Olympics), Vladas Jankauskas, Jurgis Gedminas, and Tarhumas Murnikas. All four competed in the individual road race (168 kilometre time trial). Anolikas and Jankauskas did not finish the race. Murnikas finished the race in 5 hours 41 minutes and placed 50th among 63 competitors. Gediminas was 55th (5 hours 50 minutes).[9]
Pranas Vitonis,[10] the only Lithuanian weightlifter at the Olympics, competed in men's 75 kg class. He received 275 points and shared 15th–16th places with Ernst Trinkler from Switzerland among 18 competitors.[11]
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Russian Empire (1908–1912)
Soviet Union (1952–1988)
