European champion Mykolas Alekna has been named Lithuania's best male athlete of 2022 ©NOCL

Discus throw European champion Mykolas Alekna has been named Lithuania's best male athlete of 2022 by the National Olympic Committee of Lithuania (NOCL).

NOCL President Daina Gudzinevičiūtė presented a trophy to Alekna for his achievements last year, which also saw him win a silver medal at the World Championship in Eugene.

"I really didn’t expect to achieve such results so quickly," said Mykolas.

"I’m very happy that at this age I can already be competitive with all the competitors.

"I’m proud of such a relatively fast growth."

Alkena's first major outing was at the World U20 Championships in Nairobi in 2021, where he won gold breaking the vent record with an effort of 69.81 metres.

In the same year, the 20-year-old also won the European U20 Championships.

Mykolas Alekna also won a silver medal at the World Championship in Eugene last year ©NOCL
Mykolas Alekna also won a silver medal at the World Championship in Eugene last year ©NOCL

Alekna is the son of Virgilijus Alekna, a two-time Olympic champion but insisted that his parents never asked him to take up the sport.

After a stellar 2022, the Lithuanian is "hungry" for more success.

"I’m hungry and I want those medals," he said.

"They will never be enough, especially when I’ve had felt that taste.

"That hunger doesn’t go away and only grows.

"That is one of the advantages at a young age."

Alekna moved to the United States a year ago and is studying at the University of California.