Razorback Sets New Olympic Record, Strikes Gold in Paris

Roje Stona peaked to perfection with massive discus throw

Arkansas' Roje Stona competes in the discus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in May 2023. He set an Olympic record of 70.00 meters en route to a gold medal at the Paris Olympic Games. / tallerdandem-Instagram

PARIS — All you need is one. In field events, all you need is one perfectly executed attempt to carry you to Olympic Glory. Arkansas alum Roje Stona's throw in the fourth round out of six of 70 meters in the discus final was enough for the contingent of Hogs to pick up their first gold medal of these Olympics.

Truly an underdog story right there😮.
Jamaica's🇯🇲 Roje Stona in 8th place, throwing a 70m, a personal best, breaking the #Olympic Record just set by Lithuania's🇱🇹 Alekna of 69.97m and getting First Spot where he remained for the🥇👏👏 pic.twitter.com/BTzzhWcZKQ

— Isaia Lautasi (@Isaia685) August 7, 2024

The throw not only was a personal best for Stona, but broke a 20 -year-old Olympic record set by Virgilijus Alekena in Athens 2004 of 69.89 meters. Prior to that throw, Stona was sitting in eighth place.

Mykolas Alekna, the son of Virgilijus and presumptive gold medal favorite, having smashed the world record earlier this year in Roman, Oklahoma finished in the silver medal for Lithuania position just behind with a throw of 69.97 meters. Matthew Denny of Australia rounded out the podium with a bronze medal throw of 69.31 meters.

This is the fourth medal that the Razorback contingent has picked up on the track at the Paris Olympics. Stona follows in the footsteps of Amber Anning, Kaylyn Brown and Wayne Pinnock bringing back a piece of the Eiffel Tower stateside.

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