Lithuanian athlete Mykolas Alekna has rewritten the history books of men’s track and field by breaking a 37-year-old world record in the discus throw event.
Alekna, a 21-year-old junior at Cal-Berkeley, achieved this remarkable feat by hurling the four-pound discus an astounding distance of 74.35 meters (nearly 244 feet) in Ramona, Oklahoma, on Sunday, marking a new pinnacle in the sport. This accomplishment eclipsed the previous world record of 74.08 meters set by German athlete Jürgen Schult in June 1986.
WORLD RECORD 👀
🇱🇹’s Mykolas Alekna breaks the oldest men’s world record* as he produces a monster discus throw of 74.35m in Ramona.
Jürgen Schult’s record stood for almost 38 years 🤯
*subject to the usual ratification procedures pic.twitter.com/ZtHqgRNtOU
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) April 14, 2024
Son of the legendary Olympic discus champion Virgilijus Alekna, Mykolas has long been hailed as a rising star in the track and field world. His pedigree was evident as he soared past his father’s personal best, securing his place in history and cementing his family’s legacy in the sport.
Alekna’s journey to this historic moment has been characterized by steady progress and remarkable achievements. In 2022, he made headlines by becoming the first teenage male athlete to claim a throwing medal in world championships history, clinching a silver medal.
The following year, he continued his ascent by securing a bronze medal at the 2023 World Championships, further solidifying his status as one of the sport’s brightest talents.
Before his record-breaking performance, Alekna had been steadily improving his personal best, culminating in a throw of 71.39 meters just days before his historic feat. This progression has positioned him as one of the top performers in the sport’s history, with experts tipping him as a strong contender for Olympic glory.
As Alekna prepares to make his Olympic debut in Paris, anticipation is high for his potential to secure gold and etch his name in the annals of Olympic history.
If successful, he would become the youngest Olympic men’s discus gold medalist since American Al Oerter’s triumph in 1956, adding another chapter to his already remarkable story.
