A world record throw of 75.56 metres cemented Mykolas Alekna as the first man in history to clear the 75-metre mark in discus competition. Born in Vilnius in 2002, the Lithuanian athlete rapidly ascended the ranks of international athletics, establishing himself as a dominant figure in the discus throw while breaking several long-standing performance barriers.
Early Career and Records
Alekna began his professional trajectory with notable performances in 2021, securing championships in both World Under-20 and European U20 categories. In 2022, he achieved significant milestones as a 19-year-old, winning a silver medal at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, and a gold medal at the European Championships in Munich. His throw of 69.81 metres at the Stockholm Diamond League in June 2022 marked the furthest distance recorded by a teenager. By April 2023, he became the youngest individual to surpass 70 metres with a 71.00 metre throw at The Big Meet in Berkeley, California.
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In April 2024, at the Oklahoma Throws Series World Invitational in Ramona, Oklahoma, Alekna broke the world record that had been held by Jürgen Schult since 1986. With a throw of 74.35 metres, he surpassed one of the oldest marks in track and field. He returned to the same event in Ramona on April 13, 2025, to further improve his standing. During this competition, he twice reset the world record, finishing with a mark of 75.56 metres, which also established a new NCAA record.
Olympic and Collegiate Competition
Alekna, who began his collegiate education at the University of California, Berkeley, in 2021, transferred to the University of Oregon in 2025. His performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics resulted in a silver medal with a throw of 69.97 metres. Although he surpassed the Olympic record previously set by his father, Virgilijus Alekna, in 2004, the mark was subsequently broken by Rojé Stona. Following his 2025 silver medal finish at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, his 2026 season was interrupted by a pectoral muscle tear.
Fast facts
- Born: 2002, Vilnius, Lithuania
- Sport: Discus throw
- Citizenship: Lithuania
- University of California, Berkeley: Enrolled 2021
- University of Oregon: Transferred 2025
- World Record: 75.56 metres
- Languages: Lithuanian
Questions readers ask
What is Mykolas Alekna's personal best in the discus throw?
His personal best, which also serves as the current world record, is 75.56 metres, achieved in 2025.
Did Mykolas Alekna break his father's Olympic record?
Yes, during the Paris 2024 Olympics, he recorded a throw of 69.97 metres, surpassing the Olympic record set by his father, Virgilijus Alekna, in 2004.
Achievements
- Discipline: athletics
