Virgilijus alekna biography for kids

Lithuanian track and field athlete, discus thrower Date of Birth: 13.02.1972 Country: Lithuania

Content:

1. Virgilijus Alekna: Lithuanian Discus Champion
2. Olympic Success
3. World Championships and European Titles
4. Honors and Recognition
5. Personal Life and Education
6. Awards and Honors
7. - Commander of the Order of the Grand Duke Gediminas (1997)

Virgilijus Alekna: Lithuanian Discus Champion

Early Life and Career

Virgilijus Alekna, born in 1972, grew up in a rural farming family.

He briefly played basketball in his early teens before transitioning to athletics, initially in javelin throw and later in discus throw.

Olympic Success

Alekna's Olympic journey began in 1996 with a fifth-place finish in Atlanta. He triumphed in Sydney 2000 with a throw of 69.30m, becoming Lithuania's first Olympic champion in track and field.

In Athens 2004, he initially took silver behind Róbert Fazekas, but Fazekas's doping violation led to Alekna receiving the gold med