Two of the three Lithuanians who started in the discus throwing competition at the Paris Olympic Games - Mykolas Alekna and Andrius Gudžius - will fight for medals in the final tomorrow at the Stade de France stadium.
The world record holder, 21-year-old Mykolas Alekna, who failed in the first attempt, threw the discus 67 m 47 cm in his second attempt and confidently fulfilled the qualification standard of 66 m. Later it turned out that this Lithuanian's result was the best among all 32 participants.
"Good competition. The first attempt was unsuccessful, but I didn't care about that, and in the second attempt I managed to show a good result", said Mykolas Alekna after reaching the final of the discus throw.
True, the very first throw for the Lithuanian was unsuccessful - it was not counted. M. Alekna revealed what was going through her mind when she only had two more attempts left.
"You think like a first attempt. There is psychology in it. Sometimes it happens. I'm not making a big deal out of it - one out of fifteen shots might be like that, but all the rest are good. So I'm not worried about that," said Mykolas Alekna.
The Lithuanian's second shot was the best in Group A of the selection, after the unsuccessful first attempt, the Lithuanian strategized not to overdo it, but to make the result count.
"Safe shot. I made one to make sure that I didn't have to throw another third," said Mykolas Alekna.
Soon, without waiting for the end of the A group competition, the leader of the planet ranking turned towards the dressing room. He stopped just before stepping under the stands, because his older brother Martynas, 23, made the third shot at that time. This attempt was the best of the three with 58m 66cm, but it was too short to move up from 15th place in Group A.
"I followed, but it is as it is. The first Olympiad, there will be others", - said Mykolas Alekna about brother Martyn's performance.
In the final standings, Martynas Alekna took 28th place. In the first throws, Martynas Alekna threw the tool 58 m 34 cm and 57 m 53 cm. His best this season is 66m 59cm.
"That's why I'm very happy to have made it to the Olympics, it's a big personal achievement, but it's sad that I couldn't show what I was ready for." I worked a lot, prepared a lot and was ready, but something got in my way and I couldn't show what I can do", Martynas Alekna did not hide his disappointment.
Two-time Olympic champion Virgilijus Alekna watched his son's performance in the stands of the stadium. His and Mykolos' names were also visible on the scoreboard announcing the Olympic and world record holders. Olympic record (69 m 89 cm) from 2004. The Athens Games belong to V. Alekna, and Mykolas Alekna became the world record holder this year - 74 m 35 cm
33-year-old A. Gudžius competed in group B. The result of 64 m 80 cm ensured his ticket to the final. He threw the discus 60 m 83 cm on the first throw, the third attempt was not counted. The athlete, who is competing in his third Olympic Games, was fourth in Group B, and tenth among all qualifiers. The Lithuanian was not particularly satisfied with the result, but the most important goal of the selection was achieved - he reached the final.
"I am satisfied that I got to the final. I could have been a little smarter during the warm-up. It seems that there is also experience... No, you need to scratch, tear, it's a bit overdone. I landed on my back... The first throw showed that the mind was somewhere in the call room stayed But the experience came with the second shot and sorted things out", said A. Gudžius with a smile on his face.
A. Gudžius talks about the future final with great enthusiasm.
"I will give 110 percent. Either it will be very far or you will take me out. I don't know how it will be, but I will give it my all. Theoretically, this could be the last Olympics for me, so I will try to tear myself away. What will work out of it? I don't know, maybe I'll lose 65... Or maybe 68? I don't know, but I will definitely give my all and no savings like today in the selection. In the 64th qualification, everything is fine, it's calm, but tomorrow in the final I'll see how much I can get," said A. Gudžius excitedly about the final.
In group A, Australian Matthew Denny (66 m 83 cm) and Austrian Lukas Weisshaidinger (66 m 72 cm) fulfilled the qualification standard together with Mykola Alekna. In Group B, only the German Clemens Pruefer (66 m 36 cm) did it.
Jamaicans Traves Smikle (65 m 91 cm), Roje Stona (65 m 32 cm), Ralford Mullings (65 m 18 cm), Sweden's defending Olympic champion Daniel Stahl (65 m 16 cm), 2002 will also compete in the final. world and this year's European champion Slovenian Kristjan Čeh (64 m 80 cm), Alin Alexandru Firfirica (63 m 66 cm) and Alex Rose (62 m 88 cm).
Three Lithuanian discus throwers participated in the same Games for the second time in history. The first time was in 2000. In Sydney, where V. Alekna won the first of two Olympic champion titles, the 27th was in 1992. Olympic champion Romas Ubartas, 30th - current coach of A. Gudžius, Vaclovas Kidykas. The Aleknas brothers are coached by Mantas Jusis.
