The men's world record for the best discus throw in the world is held by Jürgen Schult from East Germany who set the record on July 6th, 1986 with a throw of 74.08 m (243 ft 0 1⁄2 in). Jürgen Schult's record is the longest-standing men's world record ever (having surpassed the length of Jesse Owens's long jump record, which stood for 25 years and 79 days). The women's world record for the best discus throw in the world is held by Gabriele Reinsch who is also from East Germany who set the record on July 9th, 1988 with a throw of 76.80 m (251 ft 11 1⁄2 in).
In the olympics the best men's throw is held by Virgilijus Alekna from Lithuania with a distance of 73.88 m (242 ft 4 1⁄2 in). The best women's olympic record in discus is held by Zdeňka Šilhavá from Czechoslovakia with a distance of 74.56 m (244 ft 7 1⁄4 in)