Matthew Denny's stated aim of winning Olympic discus gold in Paris looks a whole lot more realistic after the big Queenslander smashed his own national record at the Australian championships in Adelaide.
Denny set the new mark with a huge throw of 69.35 metres in the penultimate round of the final on Saturday.
He added more than a metre to his previous best of 68.24m, set when finishing fourth at last year's world championships in Budapest.
The proven big-event performer was also fourth at the Tokyo Olympics and won gold at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022.
Saturday's effort was further confirmation Denny can match it with the big boys, including Lithuanian Mykolas Alekna - who threw 71.39m last week in California - and reigning world and Olympic champion Daniel Stahl from Sweden.
"I've said my focus was to win the Olympics and a lot of people haven't taken that too seriously," said the 27-year-old.
"Which is fair enough considering I'm fourth in the order right now, fourth in the rankings and I haven't broken that 70-metre mark.
"Today we didn't have huge winds or anything.
"That's a replicatable (sic) throw in an Olympics and that changes my argument on being competitive and looking for that win in Paris.
"That's our focus, that's what we're planning on doing."
Denny arrived in Adelaide unsure how things were going to pan out after he caught COVID-19 last week.
A strong showing in the qualifying round on Thursday took care of any lingering doubts.
"Seventy metres is a big mark and we are in an era of discus that's the most competitive ever," he said after winning a seventh national title.
"I wouldn't be surprised if the world record (74.08m set way back in 1986 by East German Juergen Schult) gets broken this weekend, with Alekna throwing in the US with some big windy meets.
" ... I'm keen to get over there and compete with all those boys in the upcoming Diamond Leagues."
Before that, the keen amateur golfer is looking forward to teeing it up in the pro-am at the upcoming LIV Golf tournament in Adelaide.
"The focus is to use it as a bit of a mental challenge," said Denny, who plays off a handicap of nine.
"It's a new environment, external pressure, your hands are shaking and you have no feel for the club.
"That is usually what happens at the Olympics, so the more you get used to that in different environments is really good."
