Lithuania’s Alekna breaks men’s discus world record, becomes first athlete to cross 75m mark

Mykolas Alekna of Lithuania made history on Sunday by breaking the world discus record and becoming the first athlete to surpass the 75-metre mark.

The 22-year-old threw 75.56 metres at the World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze meeting in Ramona, Oklahoma, eclipsing his own previous world record by more than a metre.

Alekna set the earlier mark at the same venue last year, with the facility a favourite among elite throwers due to favourable winds, where he launched the discus 74.35m.

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The 2024 Olympic silver medallist was in sensational form, opening the competition with a world record throw of 74.89m before extending it even further in the fourth round.

Australia’s Matt Denny also impressed, surpassing Alekna’s record from last year with a throw of 74.78m.