athletics
The Lithuanian Mykolas Alekna set a discus world record with 74.35 meters in Ramona (U.S. state of Oklahoma) on Sunday, surpassing the almost 38-year-old record set by the German Jürgen Schult (1986/74.08). It was recently the oldest men’s world record in athletics. “I’m still a little in shock, it’s hard to understand what I did,” explained the new world record holder.
15.04.2024 14.14
Online since today, 2:14 p.m
European champion Alekna managed a fabulous series of throws of more than 70 meters each in perfect conditions. The 21-year-old set the record in his fifth attempt. According to the World Athletics Association, 74.41 meters were initially measured, the width was then corrected downwards by six centimeters – it has yet to be officially recognized as a record.
Alekna, the 2022 World Cup runner-up and 2023 World Cup third place, is the son of Virgilijus Alekna, who was Olympic champion in 2000 and 2004 and won two world titles. His father’s best performance was 73.88 meters, and he still couldn’t believe that he had overtaken him, said the junior on the Lithuanian radio.
The world record was not his goal. “Gold at the Olympics is the goal this season. I’m concentrating more on that.” Congratulations also came from Schult. “I had 38 years to prepare and now the time has come.” It is definitely not disappointment, but rather joy that someone is throwing so far again.
Weißhaidinger takes his hat off to Alekna
Austria’s discus figurehead Lukas Weißhaidinger also congratulated Alekna on her new record. “I sent him a message first thing in the morning. You can only take your hat off, even if as a competitor you dream of a world record yourself,” explained Olympic third-place finisher Weißhaidinger, who holds the red-white-red record with 70.68 meters.
“Mykolas is now automatically the big favorite for the European Championships in Rome in June and the Olympic Games in Paris at the beginning of August,” said coach Gregor Högler, who, like his protégé, can look forward to an invitation to the Diamond League. Weißhaidinger was confirmed for May 19 in Rabat.
