15/12/2020 12:27
Founding father of Lithuanian Volleyball Vytautas Jankus passes away aged 90
News from the National Federations
Vilnius, Lithuania, December 15, 2020. The Lithuanian Volleyball family mourns the death of a true Volleyball pioneer and founding father of the sport in the Baltic country – Mr Vytautas Jankus, who passed away this past Saturday at the age of 90.
Everyone regarded Mr Jankus as the ‘patriarch’ of Lithuanian Volleyball. A graduate of the Lithuanian State Institute of Physical Education, he was a long-time Volleyball coach and sports official, a lecturer and associate professor, as well as a honorary member of the Youth Commission of the Lithuanian Volleyball Federation.
He spent his whole life, until the very last day, dedicating his time to Volleyball, even in his late years. Mr Jankus coached many players in the city of Kaunas and worked extensively to promote and grow the game through his work at the Lithuanian Institute of Physical Education.
Last year, he joined the celebrations organised in Vilnius for the 90th anniversary of Lithuanian Volleyball, proudly stressing that the sport in his home country was almost just as old as he was – he turned 90 this past January. On that occasion, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the President of the Lithuanian Volleyball Federation, Darius Čerka, and by CEV President Aleksandar Boričić, who attended the gala in Vilnius together with CEV Vice President Lubor Halanda (see picture).
The European Volleyball family extend the most sincere condolences to the family of Mr Jankus and to the Lithuanian Volleyball community, knowing that his legacy will continue to live on and that Volleyball in the Baltic country will continue to grow for many years to come.
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