Evita Griskenas — U.S. Olympian, World Games competitor and multiple gold medal winner — might not be what some would consider a typical world-class athlete.
Deeply contemplative and highly spiritual, 21-year-old Griskenas is as concerned with learning and practicing lessons about life as learning and practicing new rhythmic gymnastic routines.
“Each competition is unique and an experience in which I can learn and take something away from it as well as enjoy it,” Griskenas said. “Some competitions you might not do as well, but you’re happy that this one really hard thing worked.”
Her dedication to training is paying off. She competed at the Tokyo Olympic Games and hopes to be in Paris for the 2024 Olympics. In July she helped Team USA claim gold while taking the individual all-around title individually at the Pan American Championships in Rio de Janeiro.
“That was really exciting,” she said. “Standing on the pedestal, hearing [our] national anthem play … was a very special experience.”
She finished out of medal contention at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham: fifth in individual ribbon competition and seventh in individual hoop. But medals and wins are not what defines her, she said.
“There are lots of moments that I love, and not all of them are related to standing on a podium.”
Family influences
Griskenas’ family has been very supportive, both in her gymnastics career and in helping her grow in her faith.
Though her mother, Olga, laughed at first when 4-year-old Griskenas saw a rhythmic gymnastics competition on TV and said, “I want to do this,” she listened to her preschooler’s desire.
Olga first took her daughter to a gym with a balance beam, bars and vault. Young Evita showed the fighting spirit that would later help get her to world-class status by refusing to participate, saying it was the “wrong kind of gym.”
The family soon located a rhythmic gymnastics gym, and Griskenas started learning skills similar to those artistic gymnasts use during floor routines, but using a ball, ribbon, hoop or clubs.
When she was about 6 years old, Griskenas would wake up in the night and ask, “Mom, can you play the music?”
She would dance for about an hour, then go back to bed.
Spiritual lessons
While her mother supported Griskenas’ dream of becoming an Olympic rhythmic gymnast by letting her dance in the middle of the night and driving the 2 1/2-to-3 hour round trip to the gym, her father, Sigitas, was teaching her about God and about life.
“It started when I was young,” she recalled. “My dad was an absolutely wonderful role model. He’s very, very knowledgeable. He taught me so much about the world and how to appreciate what God has created and how to structure my life around God.
“I grew up listening to all of the scriptural stories, and we would do walks in the park where he would tell me how God created the stars and the moon and all these wonderful things.
“He also taught me how to appreciate the moment,” Griskenas added. “When we were taking a walk, he would say, ‘Stop! Smell that. Do you see it? It smells like fall, right?’ Now I notice that wherever I go.”
Though she struggled, as Griskenas matured so did her faith.
“Of course, I rely on Him a lot when I compete. I have found that through sport, as weird as that sounds, my faith has been strengthened because I get to see the way that the Lord influences my life and helps me out.
“I am nothing without Him,” she acknowledged. “My accomplishments are not what defines me. Yes, I competed at the Olympic Games, but that was the Lord answering my prayers.”
Patience and resilience
One life lesson Griskenas has learned through her sport is patience, a key in waiting for the right moment to perform a toss or reach for a catch. Perfect timing is essential, and that can’t be done without patience.
Another life lesson is resilience.
“But also on the Christian side … sometimes you have a few competitions or routines in a row where it doesn’t work,” Griskenas admitted. “This year I was in despair over something that happened with the ball. I sat there and cried and [said], ‘This is not OK.’
“I [thought to myself], ‘God, why did this happen to me?’ But I had more routines. I was like, ‘Get up and keep going.’
“You pray. Move on. The world doesn’t stop. You just have to continue to move. You can’t stay static.”
Though on the surface Griskenas’ life as an elite athlete may seem enviable, she struggled with making decisions about her future. After the Olympics she wasn’t sure about continuing in gymnastics and was dealing with difficult personal issues. College was looming, and she didn’t know if she could handle college while competing.
She remembers praying, “God, I don’t know what to do. I know this is gonna work, but help me.”
She is now in her second year of studies at Columbia University in New York. She also trains with her longtime gymnastics club and coach in suburban Chicago, which requires many flights between the two cities. It’s a balancing act of a different kind, but Griskenas said it’s been worth it.
“A lot of good things have come out of being able to do both,” she said, “and I’ve been able to do both because of His blessings and His guidance. Even when I’ve felt very unstable and unsure, what I could be sure of was that it will work out, even if I don’t know how.
“That’s the only reason I can have assurance — through God. I see Him everywhere and in everything and it’s beautiful.”
For a peek into Griskenas’ life follow her at Evita. Griskenas on Instagram.
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