KESIENE Jurate – LTU (PVE)

Jurate’s first involvement was hosting a clinic for classifiers in 1997 in Tallinn (Estonia). It was to help the Lithuanian team to understand the classification process and to give them advice on classification matters when needed. She became an International Classifier in 1999 in Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina).

Numerous people greatly influenced her development in different ways:

Jūratė Verbuvienė with her commitment to Parasport
Cristina Riera – former WOVD Board Member, Medical Director, Head of Classification and educator, who involved her in International Classification
Pavel Mustafins – Former Chair of WOVD Medical Commission who included her in the classification committee;
Louise Ashcroft, WPV Medical Director by her example and leadership
Denis Le Breuilly and Barry Couzner with their support and influence on his development
Jenni Cole – International Classifier and educator for standing and sitting volleyball
Other World ParaVolley members

Event involvement:

1997 – Tallinn/Estonia – European Championships – Trainee Classifier
1999 – Sarejevo/Bosnia and Herzegovina – Achieved International Classifier status
2006 – Triple World Championship Roermond, Netherlands – Trainee for Standing Volleyball
Attended many events in Europe, and then Iran, Egypt, etc.
2010 – World Championships in Oklahoma, USA – Classifier
2014 – World Championships in Elblag, Poland – Chief Classifier
2014 – Asian Para Games in Incheon, Korea – Chief Classifier
2016 – World ParaVolley Intercontinental in Anji, China – Classifier
2016 – Rio Paralympic Games, Brazil – Chief Classifier
2017 – European Championship in Porec, Croatia – Classifier
2018 – Subzonal event, Pajulahti Games, Finland – Educator and Classifier
2018 – European Sub-Zonal event, Hungary, Chief Classifier
2018 – Final WC Qualifier, Korea – Educator and Classifier
2018 – World Championships, The Netherlands – Chief Classifier
2018 – Asian Para Games in Jakarta, Indonesia – Classifier
2019 – Asian Zonal Championships in Bangkok, Thailand – Classifier
2019 – European Championship in Budapest, Hungary – Classifier
2019 – Parapan American Games in Lima, Peru – Classifier
2019 – World Super 6 (Women) in Tokyo, Japan – Educator and Classifier
2020 – Educator in on-line courses for level 1 and level 2 classifiers

Awards received:

World ParaVolley Recognition Award

Official post held:

Head of Classification for World ParaVolley 2014-2021

“Jurate has led the Classification Commission during times of significant change – changes in the IPC classification Code and as a result, changes in our WPV classification rules, and changes in personnel across all zones.  Jurate, despite having a busy medical practice at a University Hospital Rehabilitation centre and Vilnius University (Lithuania), has found the time to commit to the ever-increasing number of competitions, filling in where the need lies to fill spots in classification panels.

“She has provided expertise as the lead of the Classification Eligibility Committee, putting in hours of work ahead of competitions reviewing many medical reports and corresponding with athletes & teams with information to assist them to go through the classification evaluation process more smoothly.

“She has represented World ParaVolley at the IPC Head of Classification Meetings, leading by example and providing valuable insight both to IPC and to World ParaVolley about classification in ParaVolley. She was able to explain to the IPC Classification Commission during our Compliance Review why it was important for WPV to keep athletes with upper limb impairments as well as lower limb impairments in our sport, showing her commitment to keeping our sport inclusive. She participated in the first intentional misrepresentation hearing panel for our sport, helping to ensure that integrity is upheld in ParaVolley sport disciplines.

“She has been an educator, a mentor, and a great support to me as Medical Director for WPV.  I have been fortunate to have a strong team of classifiers to support me in my role, and Jurate has been invaluable as a resource, a mentor and teacher, and a role model to all classifiers.”

– Louise Ashcroft – World ParaVolley Medical Director