Teen star Meilutyte carries Lithuania's world gold hopes
VILNIUS, July 27, 2013 (AFP) - Teen star Ruta Meilutyte is Lithuania's golden hope at swimming's world championships, which started yesterday, a year after bringing the first ever Olympic gold medal in the sport to the Baltic state.
The 16-year-old is a top favourite in the 50m and 100m breaststroke in Barcelona, which is an unusual position for the blonde schoolgirl, who was little known outside swimming circles just a year ago.
“I hope she will break her personal records”, Meilutyte's coach Jon Rudd told AFP in a telephone interview.
“She is very athletic and much stronger since the Olympic Games.