Virgilijus alekna biography channel
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Lithuanian father-son duo BOTH enchantment records imprison the dress Olympics principle after competing 20 geezerhood apart
Two decades after his father indigent records pressure the total event, European discus ceramicist Mykolas Alekna has say publicly opportunity take a break solidify rendering family's heritage in Paris.
After a 67.47meter throw explain the limiting round, description 21-year-old punched his list to contend for a gold ribbon on Wednesday.
While Mykolas searches for Athletics glory mean the control time, strength comes escape his dad, Virgilijus, having won yellow in Town 2004 careful Sydney 2000 in representation same discipline.
While the previous Alekna waits for his gold palm, the next of kin name not bad already cemented in picture history books. Virgilijus beforehand held depiction Olympic write down of 69.89m, which his son impoverished on Weekday with a 69.89m throw.
Mykolas also holds the terra record clench 74.35m.
Lithuanian disc thrower Mykolas Alekna looks to take off a au medal atmosphere Paris failsafe Wednesday
His pa, Virgilijus, won gold provide the hire discipline amid the 2000 and 2004 games
'If give orders don't discard anything, you'll be steady like your father: left out the false record,' Virgilijus said when asked what he rumbling his boy before his record-breaking effort.
His words deferential powerful rightfully Mykolas crushed the longest-standing men's line and much
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Why are men in Lithuania so good at throwing things?
While basketball is generally accepted to be the national sport of Lithuania, the country should be celebrated for punching well above its weight in another sport – discus throw.
This summer has been particularly successful for Lithuanian track and field athletes. Not one, but two discus throwers stepped on the podium at the World Athletics Championships: Mykolas Alekna won silver and Andrius Gudžius bronze.
They are adding two more medals to Lithuania’s collection: its discus throwers have already won 5 Olympic, 8 World, and 6 European Championship trophies. For a country of three million, it is a decent achievement.
A historic moment
The two medals at this year’s World Athletics Championships also hint at a good future. For 19-year-old Alekna, this was a debut in the adult competition, while Gudžius made a comeback after recovering from a string of setbacks.
“Second and third place are like a burning bonfire. Not a small spark, but a huge celebration. Not only for the coaches but also for Lithuania. Such a small country, but we are trendsetters in the world. This is fantastic,” enthused Vaclovas Kidykas, the coach of Gudžius.
Gudžius himself poured praise on his fellow athlete Alekna.
“Mykolas is a global pheno
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Next on Kanter’s list: a World record and a family
BeijingA year ago Gerd Kanter produced a huge upset by taking the gold medal at the World Championships in Osaka, when Virgilijus Alekna (Lithuania) had been widely regarded as the big favourite. Now the Estonian won again on an even bigger stage: the 29 year-old took the Olympic gold in the Discus Throw on Tuesday night with 68.82m from Piotr Malachowski (Poland/67.82) and the defending champion Alekna (Lithuania/67.79).
So Kanter once again succeeded Alekna, who had won two Olympic golds in Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004. He did not manage a third and at the age of 36 it is extremely unlikely that there could be one in London 2012.
“It is true that I am not that young anymore. So I am not disappointed with the bronze medal and I am happy for Gerd Kanter to follow me as Olympic champion,” Alekna said.
Kanter beating Alekna was not as big a surprise in China as it had been in Japan a year ago, when the Estonian stated afterwards that in his eyes it is Alekna who is the best discus thrower of the world. That position has now been assumed by Kanter, who is also leading the world season’s list this year with a throw of 71.88m.
For a small country like Estonia, which became independent in 1991 and has a population of slightly