Ruta Meilutyte Biography: Speed, Love Life, Siblings, Parents, Age, Net Worth, Height, Awards

Rūta Meilutytė is a Lithuanian swimmer, celebrated as one of the most accomplished athletes in her country’s history.

An Olympic gold medalist and multiple world record holder, she specializes in breaststroke events, particularly the 50m and 100m distances.

Rising to global fame at age 15 with her 2012 Olympic victory in the 100m breaststroke, she became the first Lithuanian swimmer to win an Olympic medal.

Her career is marked by world records, multiple championships, and a remarkable comeback after a two-year doping suspension.

Profile

• Full Name: Rūta Meilutytė
• Stage Name: Ruta Meilutyte
• Born: 19 March 1997
• Age: 28 years old
• Birthplace: Kaunas, Lithuania
• Nationality: Lithuanian
• Occupation: Swimmer
• Height: 1.73m
• Parents: Saulius Meilutis and Ingrida Meilutienė
• Siblings: Margiris Meilutis, Mindaugas Meilutis
• Spouse: None
• Children: None
• Relationship: Single
• Net Worth: $2.5 million

Early Life and Education

Rūta Meilutytė was born on March 19, 1997, in Kaunas, Lithuania, to Saulius Meilutis, a nurse, and Ingrida Meilutienė, who passed away in a car accident when Rūta was four.

Raised by her father and grandmother, Aldona in Kaunas, she has two older brothers, Margiris (a law student) and Mindaugas. She began swimming at age seven at the Kaunas Swimming School, showing early talent under coach Giedrius Martinionis.

Meilutytė attended Kaunas Milikoniai Middle School until age 13, when she moved to Plymouth, England, in 2010 to join her father and train at Plymouth College and Plymouth Leander Swimming Club under coach Jon Rudd.

She received a scholarship to Plymouth College, with additional costs covered by the Lithuanian Olympic Committee. Her ethnicity is Lithuanian, and her religion is not publicly disclosed.

Career

Meilutytė’s career began with a bang at age 13, breaking Lithuanian records in the 50m and 100m breaststroke in 2010. By 2011, she won gold in the 100m breaststroke, silver in the 50m freestyle, and bronze in the 100m freestyle at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Trabzon.

At the 2012 London Olympics, at just 15, she won gold in the 100m breaststroke (1:05.47), setting a European record (1:05.21) in the semifinals and becoming Lithuania’s youngest Olympic champion.

That year, she also won gold in the 50m and 100m breaststroke and silver in the 100m individual medley at the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in Istanbul, breaking multiple national, European, and championship records.

In 2013, she set world records in the 100m breaststroke (1:04.35) and 50m breaststroke (29.48) at the World Aquatics Championships in Barcelona, winning gold in the 100m and silver in the 50m.

At 17, she became the first swimmer to win all available junior and senior international titles, per SwimSwam. Her career faced setbacks, including a 2015 elbow injury from a bike accident and a 24-month doping suspension (July 2019–July 2021) for missing three drug tests.

She returned in December 2021, competing at the Lithuanian National Championships. Meilutytė’s comeback was triumphant: she won gold in the 50m breaststroke at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships (Budapest and Fukuoka), setting a new world record (29.16) in 2023.

She also secured gold in the 100m breaststroke (1:04.62) in Fukuoka and her third consecutive 50m breaststroke world title in Doha 2024 (29.40), followed by a fourth in Singapore 2025 (29.55). Her 2022 European Championships performance included gold (50m breaststroke) and bronze (100m breaststroke).

Despite finishing 11th in the 100m breaststroke at the 2024 Paris Olympics (1:06.89) after foot surgery, she remains a dominant force, leading Lithuania’s 11-member team to the 2025 World Championships, as reported by Swimming World.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @rutameilutyte
• Facebook Handle: Rūta Meilutytė
• Twitter Handle: Unknown

Personal Life

Meilutytė is single, with no confirmed spouse, partner, or children. She resides in Kaunas but has spent significant time in Plymouth, England. Meilutytė served as an advisor to the Kaunas mayor on sports and healthy living in 2019, committing to pursue higher education.

Net Worth

Rūta Meilutytė has an estimated net worth of $2.5 million, derived from competition prize money (e.g., $100,000 from the 2023 Worlds), sponsorships with brands like Arena, and endorsements. Her role as a mayoral advisor and international fame also contribute to her wealth, as noted by Mabumbe.