Australian Olympic bronze medallist Matt Denny is closing in on a world record after posting the second-biggest discus throw in global history while competing in the United States.
Just days after crashing through the 70m barrier for the first time with a throw of 72.07, Denny again smashed the Australian record with a monster throw of 74.25m at the Oklahoma Throws Series on Thursday night (Friday AEST).
Denny's latest heroics left him just 10cm shy of the world record held by Lithuania's Mykolas Alekna, who posted a throw of 74.35m in April, 2024.
In a mouth-watering prospect, Denny and Alekna are set to go head-to-head on Sunday in an event that could result in a new world record.
Denny decided to skip the current Australian Athletics Championships in Perth in order to go for the world record this week, and his huge throws in recent days means he is now a genuine chance to set a new world benchmark.
Thursday's 74.25m effort was by no means a flash-in-the-pan moment, with Denny also posting throws of 71.03m, 71.14m, 72.93m, 73.46m and 73.56m on the night.
The 28-year-old's previous personal best entering this week was 69.96m, and his recent throws over 70m bodes well for Australian athletics.
Denny has claimed gold at the past two Diamond League finals, bronze at the Paris Olympics and finished in the top six at the three most recent editions of the world championships.
With his career still on a steep upwards curve, he will be among Australia's leading gold-medal hopes at September's world titles in Tokyo.
