22-Year-Old Hurls Discus 75.56m, First to Break 75 Meters

A 22-year-old psychology student just rewrote the history books in a town of 524 people, throwing a discus farther than any human ever has.

Mykolas Alekna launched his discus 75.56 meters at Millican Field in Ramona, Oklahoma, last April, becoming the first person to break the 75-meter barrier. The achievement came just one year after he'd set his first world record at the same venue, surpassing a mark that had stood for 38 years.

What makes the story even more remarkable is how he did it. "I wasn't thinking about breaking the world record," Alekna told Throw University's YouTube channel. "I was just going there to have a good time."

That relaxed approach came straight from his father, Virgilijus Alekna, a two-time Olympic gold medalist who came agonizingly close to the world record himself. The elder Alekna's best throw of 73.88 meters stood as the second-best in history for years, but he never quite reached the top spot his son now owns three times over.

Mykolas credits his dad's influence for his success. "The biggest lesson I learned from my dad was staying calm," he said. "He's a really calm guy. I think I learned that mindset from him."

The setting helped too. Ramona's Millican Field, nicknamed "Throw Town" by fans, features throwing circles positioned to catch the best wind currents. Strong competition pushed Alekna higher as Australian Matt Denny threw 74.78 meters the same day, claiming the second-best throw in history.

The Ripple Effect

The Alekna family now dominates the record books in a way no other family does in track and field. Together, father and son account for 34 of the 160 competitive throws beyond 70 meters in history. Mykolas owns three of the top four throws ever recorded, while Virgilijus built a career on consistent excellence with 20 throws over 70 meters.

Now studying at the University of Oregon, Mykolas is chasing his father's depth rather than just his peaks. "I want to be more consistent, with more throws over 72 meters, 71 meters, 70 metres," he explained. "I'd like 70 meters to become automatic."

He's also given back to the sport he loves. The white University of California Berkeley vest he wore during his record-breaking throw now sits in the Museum of World Athletics, a piece of history preserved for future generations to admire.

His older brother Martynas, 25, is also a competitive discus thrower with a personal best of 67.23 meters, making this a family affair that could dominate the sport for years to come.

Sometimes the greatest achievements happen when you stop chasing them and just enjoy the moment.