Mykolas Alekna, the Lithuanian fisherman who stole the oldest track and field record and wants to expand the myth at the Paris Games

THE Paris 2024 Olympic Games are just around the corner and for their “king of sports”, the Athleticsone of the probable stars has already made his possibilities clear: at just 21 years old, the Lithuanian Mykolas Alekna He broke the world record for discus throw. He did it in the town of Ramona, in the United States, with the fabulous record of 74.35 centimetres.

It could be another record, but it’s not. Alekna left behind her the oldest mark among all those existing among men: the 74.08 meters that Jürgen Schultof the former East Germany, had joined him on 6 June 1986 in Neubrandenburg.

Now that “badge” belongs to the hammer throw, given that the world record achieved by the Soviets on August 30, 1986 is untouchable. Yuri Sediyh. At that time, doping controls were not so strict, and since then most documents related to the launch tests were almost inaccessible.

Only Virgil Alekna He was one step away from Schult’s record by throwing 73.88 meters on August 3, 2000 in Kaunas, Lithuania. That year he was Olympic champion in Sydney and retained the title at Athens 2004, as well as taking bronze at Beijing 2008. Now Virgilijus sees how the record remains in the family: Mykolas is their son and was born on September 28, 2002.

Virgilijus Alekna is an idol of Lithuanian sport, as in addition to his Olympic harvest he won world titles in 2003 in Paris and 2005 in Helsinki. The Lithuanians have a tradition of great discus throwers, as Virgilijus was preceded on the Olympic podium by Romas Ubartas, champion in Seoul 1988 and second in Barcelona 1992, behind Schult.

From football to discus, to fishing

Mykolas trains at California State University, where the discus team is coached by another Lithuanian, Mo Saatara. After winning the Under 20 world title in Nairobi 2021, he made the leap to the seniors and wassecond world champion in Oregon 2022 with 69.27 meters and bronze last year in Budapest with 68.85. Two years ago, in Monaco, he won the European Championship, becoming the youngest winner in history.

“Mykolas is becoming a mature pitcher, gifted with great technique,” ​​his coach defines him. Just a week before breaking the record, he had already hinted that he was close by scoring 71.39 in his college tournament. “He is very explosive, has very good coordination and has a wonderful pitch in front of him,” added Saatara.

“My father is my great idol,” says young Alekna. He is a legendary pitcher. I want to be like him one day. Maybe even be better than him? We’ll see what happens.

Mykolas has an older brother, Martynas, who is also a great talent in this discipline, with a personal best of 67.23 obtained last year in Latvia.

Despite family tradition, Mykolas has since only started throwing the discus at the age of 16 I played football and practiced high jump. “But I slowed down and went to the puck. I think I was a little late. “My parents just wanted me to play sports,” she told World Athletics.

His hobby is fishing. “I go fishing in Lithuania in the lakes, not in the sea. It helps me relax after training. I think about the album all the time. But when I start fishing, I forget everything,” she confessed.

In Paris he will face a powerful generation of discus throwers, led by the reigning champion Daniel Stalh (Sweden), the Slovenian Kristjan Ceh (world champion) and the Austrian Lukas Weisshaidinger. “It will be a very strong season, with five athletes over 70 metres. I think it never happened. “I’m happy to be there,” he said. Only now the pressure will fall on him.