However, this year these challenges have a much deeper meaning for Juneta. Collaborating with the Rimantas Kaukėnas Support Fund, the athlete dedicates her swims to sixteen-year-old Adrian, who, after a severe accident, is fighting today for the chance to save his leg and walk independently again one day.
As the starts approach, training loads are rapidly increasing. In the coming weeks, Juneta’s preparation will reach its peak – she plans to cover 50–60 kilometers in the water per week. During such loads, the most important thing becomes not only physical fitness but also the body’s ability to recover, adapt to fatigue, and long hours in the water.
“Many only see the swim itself, but the biggest work happens much earlier. Every week is planned almost to the minute. It is necessary to combine long swims in the pool, open water training, strength exercises, rest, and nutrition. The closer to the start, the less room for improvisation,” says J.Krylovaitė.
Long, unpredictable swims await
Five weeks remain until the next challenge in New York.
During the “20 Bridges Swim,” swimmers must circumnavigate the entire island of Manhattan, covering approximately 48.5 kilometers. However, the real test lies not in the distance. The course runs through three different rivers – the East, Harlem, and Hudson – whose currents constantly change, and water temperature can vary by several degrees during a single swim. Even more unknowns await in the Hudson River, where strong currents in some places can reach speeds of up to 8 kilometers per hour. Such conditions mean that the swimmer must not only battle fatigue but also adapt to the constantly changing water movement.
The swim across the Catalina Channel will be no less challenging. The route between Catalina Island and the California coast is famous for its night starts, strong currents, and unpredictable ocean conditions. Most of the swim takes place in darkness – at such moments, the swimmer only sees the lights of the accompanying boat and must constantly keep them in sight. Around them is only black water, where sometimes even an outstretched hand cannot be seen. Although the official distance is about 34 kilometers, this is just a straight line on the map. Ocean currents constantly push the swimmer off course, so in reality, much more has to be covered – often more than 50 kilometers. Juneta will swim this entire distance wearing only a simple swimsuit, cap, and goggles.
According to open water swimming rules, she will not be able to touch the accompanying boat or get in for a short rest. Food and drinks will be handed down by rope directly into the water, and the entire swim will be continuous – from the first stroke to the last. Furthermore, the waters of Catalina are home to various marine animal species – from dolphins and sea lions to sharks, making uncertainty another companion of this challenge.
According to the athlete, psychological readiness becomes an important element of preparation as the starts approach.
“When you prepare for such swims, you train not only your body. You have to come to terms with the unknown. You cannot know exactly what the weather, waves, or currents will be like. You cannot fully prepare for all scenarios. Therefore, a lot of work happens in your head – you learn to accept what you cannot control,” says J.Krylovaitė.
Every kilometer for Adrian
The athlete collaborates with the Rimantas Kaukėnas Support Fund, which has been helping seriously ill children for 14 years. This time, help is needed for sixteen-year-old Adrian, whose life was fundamentally changed by a tragic accident last summer.
The accident that occurred on the afternoon of July 27 became a dividing line between “before” and “after” for Adrian’s family. After an extremely strong impact, the boy suffered an open leg fracture and severe soft tissue damage. Due to significant blood loss, the first hours were a fight not only for the possibility of saving his leg but also for the boy’s life itself.
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The accident was followed by resuscitation, long treatment, and complex operations. In less than a year, Adrian has already undergone 10 operations, but the fight is not over yet – at least three more are planned by January 2027.
One of the most severe complications was a bone infection. Due to it, doctors had to remove as much as 15 centimeters of bone. Only detailed examinations performed in Germany revealed that different bacteria had spread in the body, further complicating healing.
Currently, Adrian’s leg has a special implant called “Precice,” which is used for bone regeneration. The process is extremely slow – the bone is lengthened by only 0.75 millimeters daily.
From athletic dreams – to the fight for the ability to walk
“Adrian’s story touched me deeply. He himself was a swimmer, had his own goals and dreams in sports. Today, his biggest goal is to walk normally again. Compared to that, my kilometers in the water look completely different. Therefore, this year I am swimming not only for the athletic result but also to draw attention to his struggle,” says J.Krylovaitė.
According to Rimantas Kaukėnas, the founder of the fund, Adrian’s family is not new to the fund’s community – for many years they themselves contributed to various initiatives and helped seriously ill children.
“Raimondas and his family are long-standing members of our fund’s community, organizers of various campaigns and meaningful initiatives. For many years, they helped the children under our fund’s care, dedicating their time and good heart. Now it’s time to extend a helping hand to them. No one is immune to such blows in life, so we are and will be by their side,” says R.Kaukėnas.
The Rimantas Kaukėnas Support Fund contributes to Adrian’s treatment, operations, and rehabilitation. Funds are needed not only for future operations but also for medications, supplements, wound care, pressure sore treatment, and continuous physiotherapy.
The collected support helps ensure that the boy can continue his complex recovery journey and receive the necessary help. Every donation becomes another step towards the most important goal – saving his leg and one day walking independently again. You can contribute to Adrian’s treatment here: https://app.greet.menu/donation/eC0z1NBWfBUa
“Rimantas Kaukėnas Support Group” has been operating since 2012 and helps Lithuanian children suffering from oncological diseases. The goal of this fund is to alleviate the burden of children with life-threatening diseases and their families, help them cope with the trauma of a difficult diagnosis, long recovery, and bring light into children’s lives by fulfilling their dreams. With the help of sponsors, “Rimantas Kaukėnas Support Group” provides children with necessary medical equipment, non-reimbursable medications, and helps implement important treatments and operations.
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