Allegations of misconduct are roiling Lithuania’s swimming community after competitive swimmer Smiltė Plytnykaitė publicly accused her former coach, Paulius Andrijauskas, of inappropriate behavior. The accusations, which include racially charged comments and the sharing of sexually suggestive images with team members-some of whom are minors-have led to Andrijauskas’s resignation as coach of the Lithuanian national swimming team and sparked a national conversation about athlete safety and accountability within the sport. Plytnykaitė detailed her experiences in a social media post and subsequent interviews, offering a rare glimpse into the challenges athletes face when confronting abuse of power.
The silence surrounding allegations of misconduct is often the greatest barrier to addressing abuse of power, particularly in the world of competitive sports. A Lithuanian swimmer has recently come forward with disturbing accusations against her former coach, sparking a national conversation about athlete safety and the importance of speaking out.
Smiltė Plytnykaitė, a competitive swimmer, publicly accused her former coach, Paulius Andrijauskas, of inappropriate behavior. Plytnykaitė shared details of the alleged misconduct in a social media post and subsequent interviews, highlighting a pattern of disturbing comments and actions. The case underscores the challenges athletes face when reporting abuse and the potential for a culture of silence to protect perpetrators.
“It’s even harder to talk about this because I sincerely respected this coach for a long time and valued him as a specialist in his field,” Plytnykaitė stated. “He gave me a lot of knowledge, discipline, and experience in sports, for which I am still grateful. But respect for professionalism cannot justify inappropriate behavior. Even good results or authority do not give the right to cross boundaries.”
Plytnykaitė alleges that Andrijauskas made racially charged comments and sent inappropriate images to team members, including minors, via a group chat. She described instances where he made offensive remarks about her future studies in the United States and sent sexually suggestive content. “He said, ‘Smiltė is going to America, she’ll start riding Black people again,’” Plytnykaitė recounted in an interview with lrytas.lt. “Or he sends a photo of himself half-naked with various images. And in the group – there are underage girls.”
Skirmanto Lisausko / BNS nuotr./Smiltė Plytnykaitė
Andrijauskas has since announced his resignation from his position as coach of the Lithuanian national swimming team, according to a report by 15min.lt. The allegations have prompted a wider discussion about safeguarding athletes and addressing misconduct within the sport.
In a statement, Andrijauskas said, “Throughout my time working with the Lithuanian swimming team, I have focused my attention and energy on training athletes and achieving results in the international arena. Currently, my relationship with Smiltė Plytnykaitė and her inner circle is the same – good, friendly, and focused on achieving the highest sporting results – they can confirm this themselves. I also know that my relationship with all the team and athletes I coach is excellent and there have been no complaints. Respecting the athletes, the community and the reputation of Lithuanian swimming, I have decided to temporarily step down from my position. I am ready to fully cooperate if formal checks or investigations are initiated, and I trust in an objective, fact-based assessment.”
„LTU Aquatics“ nuotr./Paulius Andrijauskas
Andrijauskas, a former member of the Lithuanian national swimming team and Olympic Games participant, has a long history in the sport. He transitioned to coaching after his competitive career, working with high-performance athletes to prepare them for European and World Championships, as well as the Olympic Games.
“LTU Aquatics” has released a statement emphasizing its zero-tolerance policy towards discrimination, unethical conduct, and inappropriate behavior. The organization stated it is committed to creating a safe and respectful environment for all athletes, coaches, and personnel. The organization plans to address the situation further at an upcoming Executive Committee meeting.
“All possible questions or situations related to ethics, codes of conduct or internal processes are assessed responsibly, in accordance with applicable procedures, laws and good governance principles. Further decisions regarding the Lithuanian swimming team coaching staff and issues related to this situation will be made by the LTU Aquatics Executive Committee in the near future,” the organization added.
Vidmanto Balkūno / 15min nuotr./Paulius Andrijauskas
Plytnykaitė’s decision to come forward highlights the courage required to challenge power imbalances and the critical need for robust reporting mechanisms and support systems for athletes. The case serves as a stark reminder of the potential for abuse within sports and the importance of fostering a culture of accountability and respect.
“It’s hard to talk about these things. But it’s even harder to stay silent,” Plytnykaitė concluded.
