Mykolas Alekna breaks men's discus world record

By Emre Asikci

ISTANBUL (AA) - Mykolas Alekna from Lithuania broke the men's 38-year record discus world record, setting a new mark of 74.35 meters at the Oklahoma Throws Series competition in Ramona in the US state of Oklahoma.

The “stunning throw” from the 21-year-old Lithuanian broke the world record of 74.08m set by Germany’s Jurgen Schult in 1986, the Olympics said in a statement.

Alekna showed intent with his opening throw of 72.21m, bettering his personal best of 71.39m, and his record-breaking throw of 74.35m came in his fifth attempt.

The Alekna family now has two of the three best men’s discus throwers in history, with two-time Olympic winner Virgilijus Alekna, who is Mykolas’ father, in third on the world all-time best list with his 73.88m from 2000.