Former Grybauskaitė bodyguard: I still cannot disclose certain details
Former personal bodyguard to Lithuania’s ex-President Dalia Grybauskaitė, Simona Liaudanskienė, says she still cannot reveal certain details about her work, she told LRT Radio’s programme “Pažinimai”.
Liaudanskienė, now a functional fitness trainer, served as a bodyguard in the State Security Department (VAT), protecting top state officials. Her daily routine demanded sharp focus, quick reactions, high psychological resilience, and exceptional physical preparedness.
She recalled that her love for sports and discipline led her to the service. From a young age, she was drawn to movement and structure, having competed professionally in cycling. A colleague later encouraged her to apply, describing the work as something “straight out of a James Bond film.”
Liaudanskienė described her time protecting Grybauskaitė as a period requiring constant vigilance and foresight. “There are countless nuances you must know and anticipate. You have to be present, move, think, and predict two steps ahead—what the president will do next. If she decides to take off her coat, I need to assist her while still performing my duty: observing the surroundings, ensuring security,” she said.
The experience honed her ability to notice what others might miss. “You start observing and seeing certain things, suspicious moments. Even now, after leaving the service, I still have this habit: when I enter a room, I always look for exits, just in case,” she explained.
While she acknowledged the risks of the job, she never dwelled on her own safety. “I simply did my job. My focus was on ensuring the president’s security,” Liaudanskienė stated. She added that doubt has no place in such work: “In this job, there cannot be a second of hesitation.”
She credits the experience with strengthening her discipline and ability to read people, reinforcing her belief that things are not always as they seem. The role also deepened her confidence in her ability to take on new challenges and keep learning.