Aurimas Lankas
Lithuanian canoe sprinter (born 1985)
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Aurimas Lankas (born 7 September 1985) is a Lithuanian former canoe sprinter and current sports administrator. He won a bronze medal in the K-2 200 m event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro alongside Edvinas Ramanauskas, Lithuania's second-ever Olympic medal in canoeing.[1] He has served as President of the Lithuanian Canoe Federation since 2024.[2]
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationality | Lithuanian | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 7 September 1985 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home town | Šiauliai, Lithuania | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 88 kg (194 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Canoe sprint | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Events | K-2 200 m, K-4 500 m | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Irklo Broliai | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Antanas Lankas (club), Romualdas Petrukanecas (national) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Retired | 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Early life and education
Lankas was born in Šiauliai and began paddling at age 10–11, introduced to the sport by his father Antanas, who later became his coach.[3] He attended Šiauliai Didždvaris Gymnasium, graduating in 2004. In 2009, he earned a law degree from Vilnius University, specialising in criminal law, and in 2019 completed a Master's in Physical Culture and Sport Pedagogy at Šiauliai University.[3][4]
Career
Lankas returned to elite competition in 2009, training with the club Irklo Broliai under coaches Antanas Lankas and Romualdas Petrukanecas.[5] His primary event was the K-2 200 m, where he formed a long-term partnership with Edvinas Ramanauskas.
Major results
| Year | Competition | Venue | Event | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | European Championships | Brandenburg | K-2 200 m | 2nd | Silver medal[6] |
| 2014 | World Championships | Moscow | K-2 200 m | 5th | Finalist[7] |
| 2015 | European Championships | Račice | K-2 200 m | 3rd | Bronze medal |
| 2015 | European Games | Baku | K-2 200 m | 5th | |
| 2016 | Summer Olympics | Rio de Janeiro | K-2 200 m | 3rd | Bronze medal (32.382 s)[1] |
| 2019 | World Championships | Szeged | K-4 500 m | 13th |
At the 2016 Olympics, Lankas and Ramanauskas finished behind Spain (gold) and Great Britain (silver), securing Lithuania's first Olympic canoeing medal since 1992.[8]
Post-athletic career
Lankas retired from competitive sport in 2024.[9] In December 2024, he was elected President of the Lithuanian Canoe Federation (LBKIF), with his former K-2 partner Edvinas Ramanauskas appointed General Secretary.[10][2] In his new role, he has prioritised developing youth talent and ensuring Lithuanian representation at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Outside canoeing, Lankas has worked in the financial sector since 2009, holding leadership positions at Šiauliai-based credit unions, and has been a member of the Šiauliai City Council since 2015.[3]
