In a surprising turn of events, 21-year-old Lithuanian discus thrower Mykolas Alekna has unofficially broken the oldest male record in athletics. Alekna, the son of double Olympic champion Virgilijus Alekna, surpassed the previous record set by Juergen Schult in 1986 by throwing the discus 74.35 meters at a sector meeting in Ramona, Oklahoma.
Alekna, who had previously achieved a best mark of 71.36 meters, has quickly risen through the ranks in the sport. Enrolled at the University of Berkeley and training under Coach Mo Saatara, Alekna has shown remarkable speed, explosiveness, and coordination on the field.
Inspired by his father’s success in the sport, Alekna made the switch from soccer to discus throwing and quickly made a name for himself. His dedication to technique and focus on using the lower body in throws has helped him excel in the sport.
If Alekna’s record is approved, it would be the longest-standing record in athletics since the 1980s. As he sets his sights on becoming an Olympic champion like his father, Alekna’s success marks a new chapter in the world of discus throwing.