Both have Stockholm Stadium as their favorite arena, both are aiming for a win in the discus throw event at the Diamond League gala.
But what does world champion Daniel Ståhl think about young Mykolas Alekna taking over the throne?
Daniel Ståhl has always spoken in terms of his and others' successes in the discus throw being good for the sport. Now, of course, he praises this year's shooting star, the 10-year-younger Mykolas Alekna from Lithuania, who started the season by breaking the 38-year-old world record (74.35 meters) and then followed it up with wins in the next competitions.
Considering that Alekna is only 21 years old and has not yet had time to build up his strength enough, it is even more impressive, according to Ståhl.
Virgilijus Alekna had the world's second-longest throw – before his son set the world record and pushed his father to third place.
Mykolas Alekna tells TT ahead of the Swedish Diamond League gala that this year's progress is the fruit of consistent and good work over the past five-six years.
He set the world record at a throwing competition in Oklahoma where there were favorable winds. He has been criticized for the record not being set in an arena competition.
He says that the world record means a lot to him.
He has shown this in the two Diamond League competitions he has won at the beginning of the track and field season.
Ståhl is satisfied with his season start. He threw 68.88 meters in the first competition and looks forward to his home competition.
Daniel Ståhl
Born: August 27, 1992, Stockholm.
Club: Spårvägen.
Family: Partner with shot putter Fanny Roos.
Main achievements: Two World Championship gold medals (Doha, 2019, Budapest, 2023), one Olympic gold medal (Tokyo, 2021), one European Championship silver medal (2018, Berlin) and one World Championship silver medal (2017, London).
Mykolas Alekna
Born: September 28, 2002, in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Family: Father is former discus thrower Virgilijus Alekna.
Main achievements: World record holder with 74.35. Junior European champion 2021 and 2022, junior world champion 2022, silver medalist at the 2022 European Championships, and bronze medalist at the 2023 World Championships.
