J. Mertinas passed away on Sunday, August 2nd, at the age of 83. Born in the village of Meištų (Būblelių) in the Šakių district, Mertinas dedicated many years of his life to the sport of orienteering.
He notably served as the head coach for the Lithuanian deaf orienteering sports team. According to the committee’s report, his professionalism, patience, and sincere commitment were instrumental in helping athletes achieve top results in international competitions. The report highlighted the significant contributions Mertinas made to the careers of numerous athletes.
For instance, athlete Tomas Kuzminskis achieved the title of deaflympics champion eight times. Furthermore, many other athletes, including Arūnas Kubaitis, Kęstutis Remeika, Marija Remeikienė, and Jurgis Šilkinis, earned European and deaflympics championships and accolades under his guidance. His coaching tenure was marked by consistent success, fostering a culture of high achievement within the national team.
The collective success of these athletes underscores the lasting impact of J. Mertinas’s dedication to the sport and the development of its participants. His legacy remains one of mentorship and dedication to athletic excellence.
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