The new discus world record has been completely smashed.
But Daniel Ståhl has nothing but praise for his rival Mykolas Alekna.
– Incredibly powerful, says Ståhl.
It was earlier in the year that 21-year-old Mykolas Alekna shocked the athletics world. The world record in the discus had stood since 1986, but in a competition in Oklahoma, USA, Alekna struck with a monster throw of 74.35, thus a new world record.
Saw for the record
But not everyone was impressed. Many believed that the competition was made for a record, as it was on an open meadow and it was blowing half a gale. Daniel Ståhl’s former coach Vesteinn Hafsteinsson was one of those who were critical.
– You will be chasing results in a full storm and then it will be much shorter in the championships. I have said for twenty years that I think it is wrong, Vesteinn told Aftonbladet.
Hafsteninsson also believed that Alekna would not have been close to 74 meters if it had been a championship, or in an arena that is not as open and windy. But Daniel Ståhl, Sweden’s greatest discus star of all time, has only positive things to say.
– Incredibly powerful. The world record has stood for 38 years. It’s all praise to him, it’s great fun, he tells Radiosporten about his rival.
Ståhl’s tribute
Daniel Ståhl says that the discus has grown enormously in recent years, and that world records like this only benefit the sport.
– If you look back to 2016, there was actually a man over 68 meters. Now we are ten throwers who are over 68 meters. So the width grows and grows, it’s incredibly good for the discus, he says.
Ståhl also gets the support of his current coach Staffan Jönsson, who thus does not share former coach Hafsteinsson’s thoughts.
– I like it when our branch gets attention. We were on our way out of the Diamond League, and were out of the Diamond League, so that we get attention is only good, says Jönsson.
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