Virgilijus Alekna once dominated puck races. Now charming his son Mykolas Alekna.
15:47 • Updated 5:45 PM
The legendary last name is back at the top of the athletics competition. Lithuania Virgil Alekna is one of the greatest legends of discus throwing.
During his career, Alekna won two Olympic golds, two world championships and a lot of other medals. He holds the second longest puck arc ever, 73.88.
After a short break, Alekna is once again throwing international-class arches. Now, however, Alekna’s 19-year-old son has long arches, Mykolas Alekna.
Mykolas Alekna has been one of the most interesting young names in the world of athletics in the early part of the season. Last year, Alekna, who won both the European Championships and the World Championships in gold, has improved her record of five and a half meters to 69.00.
The record throw was set last weekend at the Lithuanian Championships. There he left behind the world champion five years ago, Andrius Gudzius.
– If at the age of 19 you throw a two-pound disc 69 meters, that’s a damn hard result. Quite insane, discus throwing coach Anssi Mäkinen anneal.
Technically good
Father Alekna once rolled with his physical qualities. The boy also has frames, but according to Mäkinen, the younger Alekna stands out especially technically.
– He’s a really technical, fast and skilled dude. Basic physics is a must have. Not 69 meters are thrown in with its fragile power level and power output characteristics. Technically, he is really good and much better than his father.
– Virgil is ungodly in size. He had a really big depth.
Alekna threw almost 70 meters of the 1.75-kilo puck used in the youth series last year. Now he is throwing his first pound of two-pound reels.
Alekna’s development has been tremendous.
– Yes, he has come to his father quite clearly. The throwing looks very fast, rhythmic and efficient. So it’s no wonder the puck flies around well.
Defeating Dad would take a long way
Alekna is nicely fifth in the world statistics at the moment. The above are only Swedish Daniel Ståhl (71.47), Slovenian Kristjan Ceh (71.27), compatriot Gudzius (69.39) and Austria Lukas Weisshaidinger (69.11).
Alekna will compete in the Diamond League in Stockholm on Thursday night. It is the biggest race of his career to date.
Mäkinen calls for restraint with 19-year-old Alekna.
– There are veterans Ståhl and Gudzius and young challengers Ceh and Alekna. Yes, it brings a vibe to the championships.
– He may not be able to challenge the most experienced friends yet. Nerve pressure may be too intense. If the development continues in the future, he can inject even better. Then we are far away.
Then we would talk about a new world record. It is Jürgen Schultin 1986 thrown 74.08.
Update at 5:45 PM: Fixed a name error in the first sentence of the last paragraph.