The scent of Lithuania is spreading across the Olympics once again! The youngest man ever to break the 70-meter mark in discus, he did not begin to take an interest in the sport until he was 16. At the age of 21, Mykolas Alekna has broken the longest-standing men’s track and field world record. He is fierce. He stands almost two meters tall. But most of all, this second-generation Olympian does not let his 2x Olympic gold medalist father’s fame cast a shadow over his own. That’s a power mastered by one in a million.

Alekna is more than just a name; he stands as living proof of athletic dynasty and individual brilliance. Born into a family steeped in sporting legend, with a father who is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a mother who was a long jumper, Mykolas has shattered expectations and rewritten record books. His journey, however, is far from over.

Who are Mykolas Alekna’s parents?

Alekna comes from a family of astounding athletes. His father, Virgilijus Alekna, has won 12 gold, 6 silver, and 3 bronze medals across many international sports platforms. Three of these come from the Olympics and four from the World Championship. Arguably one of the most famous Lithuanian athletes, the elder Alekna is a former UNESCO Champion for Sport and is a residing Member of the Lithuanian Parliament at the moment. His mother, Kristina Alekniene, is a retired long jumper.

Alekna’s elder brother, Martynas Alekna, has followed in their father’s footsteps and has made his career in discus throwing as well. Their sister, Gabrielė Aleknaitė, followed her mother’s sport and is pursuing the long jump at the moment.

How his father has helped him become a star: All about 2x Olympic Gold Medalist Virgilijus Alekna

Mykolas was only two years old when his father won his second Olympic gold in 2004 in Athens. He has also witnessed his father hoisting the Lithuanian flag as a World Champion several times after. Virgilijus Alekna has been an idol since his childhood. The younger Alekna claimed, “My father is my big idol. He’s a legendary thrower.“ But along with being a supreme inspiration in Mykolas Alekna’s life, his father has also been his competitor. Thus, he once said, “I want to be like him one day. Maybe even be better than him? We will see what happens.” So he did.

Virgilijus Alekna is no longer the world‘s second discus throw record holder; his guidance and his rivalry have made Mykolas Alekna surpass him only at the age of 21. That’s right. With a 74.35-meter throw, the younger Alekna broke the record set in 1986, which his father could not overcome in his own stellar career.

Mykolas affirmed that it was his father who pushed him towards discus throwing. In his early teens, Alekna was more drawn towards soccer. But by the time he hit puberty, he could no longer find shoes of his size. That was the precise moment when his high-achieving father, Virgilijus Alekna, suggested, “You should try discus because you cannot play soccer anymore.”

However, Virgilijus Alekna never pressured his son. Many described the retired athlete as having a rather relaxed demeanor. Yet, whenever his son is in need of guidance, the Olympic gold medalist will come forward without a second’s delay. Mykolas reflected on how supportive his father has been in his journey to the top. “He has a very big influence on me. He’s supported me all the way, encouraged me, and shared his experience with me. He helped me a lot,” said the younger Alekna.

Who is Coach Mo Saatara? All to know about Mykolas Alekna’s coach

After Mykolas Alekna came to the USA and joined UC Berkeley, he was under the guidance of coach Mohamad “Mo” Saatara. Coach Mo has been Cal’s track and field assistant coach for the throwing program since 2013. Until 2023, he has been able to build and improve 36 student-athletes on the school’s all-time outdoor top-10 lists and 22 on the indoor top-10 list. Moreover, he honed 3 professional athletes. In his career, he brought national and international fame in discus, javelin, shot put, and hammer throws through his excellent guidelines.

Coach Mo’s philosophy goes: It’s not what you have; it’s what you do with what you have. About his young junior trainee, Alkena, Mo Saatara only has compliments. Following Alekna’s record-breaking feat, Saatara stated, “He’s a very explosive athlete. Super, his coordination is great. He has a lot of throwing power and his throwing — I don’t know, there’s not too many people on earth that can do that, that have that kind of ability.”

Along with his coach, Mykolas Alekna has been breaking several records. This includes the 2022–23 US Berkeley Men’s Discuss record, a European (and unofficial world) U23 record, the 2022–23 NCAA record, and several others within his school.

Do you think this Lithuanian second-generation Olympian will be able to get a gold medal after breaking the world’s longest-standing record in discus throwing? Let us know in the comments below.