Mykolas Alekna: the history-making son chasing an all-timer dad Premium

21-year-old Mykolas Alekna, son of Olympic champion Virgilijus, breaks discus world record, aiming for Paris Olympics medal.

What do you inherit from a parent who has tasted athletic success? The genes, certainly, as well as the opportunity for early immersion in sport and the access to top-level knowhow. 

But along with these gifts come curses, perhaps the most challenging of which are the expectations of being the child of an elite athlete. And when your father is a two-time Olympic and two-time World champion, both the gifts and curses are multiplied manyfold.

So when 21-year-old Mykolas Alekna broke a world record in the discus throw that had stood since 1986, the initial awe began to slowly share space with the feeling that this was hardly unexpected. After all, Mykolas’ father, Virgilijus, is one of discus’ all-time greats. He stood on the top step of an Olympic podium in Sydney (2000) and Athens (2004). Alekna senior also won gold at the World Championships in Paris (2003) and Helsinki (2005).  

Mykolas Alekna’s mammoth throw of 74.35 metres at the Oklahoma Throws Series competition last weekend shattered the longest standing world record in men’s athletics. The previous mark of 74.08 metres was set by German athlete Jurgen Schult on June 6, 1986. Alekna’s throw was originally measured at 74.41m but later revised. The record is subject to ratification.

Alekna’s record throw was his fifth attempt at the low-key event in the US Midwest dedicated only to throwing field events and formed a part of a series of six 70m-plus throws by the Lithuanian. Competing on a weekend that was blessed with perfect throwing conditions, Alekna launched the discus and pointed at it as it flew through the air, knowing he had uncorked a special one.

In addition to breaking the world record, the throw bumped his father to third on the all-time list. Virgilijus Alekna recorded a best of 73.88m in 2000.

“It’s really hard to grasp yet,” the new world record holder told Lithuanian public media outlet LRT.lt. “It was a very good competition with all the conditions for a world record — strong winds, warm weather. I managed to make a technical throw. I’m still in a bit of shock, I’m very happy. Of course, the world record is not my goal — the Olympic gold is the goal for the season.”