Malda Baumgartė

Malda Baumgartė (born 7 January 1965) is a Latvian-born Lithuanian retired paralympic athlete who competed at international track and field competitions, she competed in discus throw, javelin throw, shot put and formerly pentathlon. She is a double Paralympic champion and a world champion in her disciplines. She is also a former sitting volleyball player.[1][2]

Malda Baumgartė
Personal information
Born (1965-01-07) 7 January 1965
Ventspils, Latvia
Sport
Country Lithuania
SportParalympic athletics
DisabilityIncomplete spinal cord injury
Disability classF44
Medal record
Paralympic athletics
Representing  Lithuania
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place1996 AtlantaDiscus throw F41
Gold medal – first place1996 AtlantaShot put F41
Bronze medal – third place1992 BarcelonaPentathlon PW3-4
World Championships
Gold medal – first place1998 BirminghamJavelin throw F44
Silver medal – second place1998 BirminghamDiscus throw F44/46
Silver medal – second place2002 Villeneuve d'AscqJavelin throw F42-46

Stabbing

On Christmas Eve, Baumgartė went to walk home after finishing her work shift late at night. She decided to take a shortcut rather than taking her normal route back to her house, a man jumped out of some bushes nearby and stabbed Baumgartė in her back twice. She was spotted lying on the snow in her blood by a passerby hours later. Doctors managed to reconnect the nerves in her spine and was hoped that she would be able to walk again; she required the use of a wheelchair for three to four months. The man who stabbed Baumgartė was sentenced to eight years in jail. She decided to move to Lithuania and gained Lithuanian citizenship in a short space of time.[3]

References
  1. "Malda Baumgarte - IPC Profile". International Paralympic Committee. 1 January 2022.
  2. "Malda Baumgarte (in Lithuanian)". University of Lithuania. 1 January 2022.
  3. "Malda Baumgarte: from a stab in the back to a Paralympic champion (in Lithuanian)". etaplius. 8 August 2020.
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