Ausra Fridrikas

Lithuanian-born Ausra Fridrikas represented Austria at handball, finishing fifth at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. During her international career she played with the Soviet Union (165 international caps), Lithuania (86), and Austria (133). In 1990, Fridrikas won the gold medal with the USSR at the World Championships and with Austria she won two bronze medals, at the 1996 Europeans and the 1999 Worlds. In total, she scored 1,059 goals. She was named World Handball Player of the Year in 1999 and was inducted into the European Handball Federation Hall of Fame in 2023.

Fridrikas played at club level with RK Eglė Vilnius (LTU, 1987-92), CB Mar Valencia (ESP, 1992), Hypo Niederösterreich (AUT, 1992-2000, 2006-07), Bækkelagets Sportsklub (NOR, 2000-02), Slagelse DT (DEN, 2002-05), and ZHV Wiener Neustadt (AUT, 2005-06). In 1993-94, 1995, 1998, and 2000 when she won the EHF Champions League with Hypo Niederösterreich, and with Slagelse DT in 2004-05.

Fridrikas later became a coach with the Austrian female national youth teams. Her son Lukas became a football (soccer) professional in Austria.