sabaitė began athletics in 1967 and was a member of the ussr national team since 1970. she competed mainly in the 800 metres, and won an olympic silver medal in 1972, between germans hildegard falck (gold) and gunhild hoffmeister (bronze). she also won 800m silver at the 1973 summer universiade behind lilyana tomova from bulgaria, studying in vilnius pedagogical institute. in 1972 she was awarded the order of the badge of honor.