Stewart McSweyn breaks Craig Mottram record in Rome Diamond League 2020

Australia instantly has a new face for next year’s Olympics in Japan after an Aussie runner shattered an iconic record on Thursday night.

Stewart McSweyn breaks Craig Mottram's record.

Some records mean more than others. And the 14-year breakthrough from Aussie distance runner Stewart McSweyn on Thursday night in Rome means as much as any number seen in Aussie athletics in recent years.

The 25-year-old Tasmanian captured bronze in the men’s 3000m event at the Wanda Diamond League meet and snapped legend Craig Mottram’s iconic national record — which has held firm since 2006.

In a personal best run of seven minutes 28.02 seconds, McSweyn shattered Mottram’s iconic time which famously saw him defend his World Cup title in 2006.

He didn’t just beat it — he smashed more than four seconds off the time and stuck with Jacob Kiplimo all the way to the finish line in a thrilling three-man breakaway.

Uganda’s Kiplimo just edged out Norwegian Jakob Ingebritsen in the dramatic dart to the finish line.

Stewart McSweyn is going to be dangerous in Japan.

He was just 1.38 seconds away from the gold, but it will feel a lot like a victory after beating his previous personal best time by 6.77 seconds and shaving Mottram’s iconic time by 4.17 seconds.

Just like that, McSweyn emerged as the likely face of the men’s athletics team heading into next year’s Olympics in Tokyo.

Wow, you're on fire @Stewy_mac3 - great running, incredible season, congratulations!

— Rob de Castella (@deek207) September 17, 2020

Fellow Aussie Matthew Ramsden also did enough to finish seventh, 20 seconds behind McSweyn.

Ramsden and McSweyn earlier this week also dominated the men’s 1500m final at the IAAF World Challenge Meet in Zagreb with McSweyn winning the meet before rushing to Rome for Thursday night’s big meet.

His new record means he can finally escape Mottram’s shadow.

“It’s obviously hard to be compared to a guy who was that good. You have to try and do a lot of good things to be even mentioned in that vein,” McSweyn told The Sydney Morning Herald earlier this year.

“He’s still done a lot more than I have done in the sport. Until you do a bit more you’re very careful talking about it.”

Armed with the new national record, he can finally do all the talking he likes.