Things to know about discus world record breaker Mykolas Alekna

Part of discus throw’s golden age

Alekna is competing in what may be described as a golden age for men’s discus throw. In 2022, five men cleared the 67m mark at the World Championships final for the first time in history; the 2023 World Championships field included five athletes who had a 70m throw under their belts.

While he may be the new all-time number one, Alekna can’t rest on his laurels. Reigning world champion Daniel Ståhl of Sweden is also the defending Olympic champion, and set the World Championships record of 71.46m last year.

Slovenia’s Kristjan Ceh, not too much older than Alekna at 25, won the world title in 2022 with a throw of 71.13m, which was at the time also a Championships record.

Alex Rose of Samoa and Austria’s Lukas Weißhaidinger have each also thrown over 70m.

Additionally, there is something else that could be at the back of Alekna’s mind in Paris. No father-son duo has ever won gold at the same individual athletics event at the Olympic Games. Indeed, the only father and son to both win gold in a single event are Charlie (1956) and Chip Jenkins (1992, as a reserve), doing so for the USA in the men’s 4x400m relay.

At Paris 2024, Mykolas Alekna can write yet more history.