Mykolas Alekna breaks men’s discus record with 74.35m throw

Mykolas Alekna set a new men’s world record in discus with a throw of 74.35m, surpassing the longstanding record. At a throws meet in Ramona, Oklahoma, his fifth attempt initially measured at 74.41m but was later adjusted down by six cm.

This record-breaking throw eclipsed the previous record of 74.08m set by German athlete Jurgen Schult in 1986.

World Athletics stated that Alekna’s new mark, at the age of 21, is undergoing the standard ratification process. Notably, Alekna had previously won silver and bronze at the 2022 and 2023 world championships, respectively.

This achievement also moved his father, Virgilijus Alekna, who clinched Olympic gold in both 2000 and 2004, to third place on the all-time list with his 73.88m throw in 2000.