Mykolas Alekna, for history: he broke the oldest world record in men’s athletics

The young Lithuanian athlete Mykolas Alekna it broke this Sunday World record for discus throwin force for almost 38 years, by cash on delivery 74.35 meters in a tournament held in Ramona (Oklahoma, United States)

Alekna, silver medalist at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene and bronze medalist last year at the World Championships in Budapest, thus managed to break the oldest record in men’s athletics.

The highest score so far was 74.08 m set by Jürgen Schultrepresentative of the former German Democratic Republic, 6 June 1986.

Until this Sunday, Schult’s record was the longest in the history of men’s athletics. surpassing that of Jesse Owens in the long jump, valid for 25 years and 79 days.

The oldest world record in all of athletics has been held since July 1983 by the Czech JArmila Kratochvilovawho was then competing for Czechoslovakia, running the 800 meters in 1m53s28.

Alekna, 21, ousted Schult in her fifth round at the Oklahoma Throws Series World Invitational tournament, a smaller event on the track and field calendar devoted exclusively to throwing events.

The previous best score achieved by this University of California at Berkeley student was 71.00 meters, set in April 2023.

The athlete, one of the favorites for the podium at the Paris 2024 Games, is the son of Virgil Aleknawinner of two Olympic golds (2000 and 2004) and a bronze (2008) and two world titles (2003 and 2005).

Virgil Alekna Until Sunday it had the second highest rating in the world with the 73.88 launched in 2000.

This Sunday the young Mykolas benefited from strong winds and favorable conditions in Ramona, where the Cuban Yaimé Pérez had already impressed on Saturday with a throw of 73.09 m.

That record was the highest in the women’s category since 1989, although it was more than three meters away from Germany’s Gabriele Reinsch’s world record (76.80m in 1988).

Source: AFP