Nina Kennedy has ousted reigning Olympic champion Katie Moon to claim the gold medal in the women's pole vault in Paris. 

Kennedy became Australia's first-ever women's champion in a field event after clearing 4.90 metres to win gold ahead of Moon and Canada's Alysha Newman.

The 27-year-old's win made it a record 18 gold medals for Australia at the Paris Games and was one of an equal-record four golds to come Australia's way on day 12. A total of six medals won on day 12 made it the greatest day in terms of medals won in Australia's rich Olympic history.

The previous best total haul was 17 golds at the Athens 2004 Games and again three years ago in Tokyo.

"I was very open to the media about it, I was very vulnerable, I said from the start I wanted to win the gold medal and it's scary, it's vulnerable but I did it and I couldn't be proud of myself and my team," Kennedy told Nine after her win.

"I felt really calm. I came in with a job, and intention and today I told myself to get to work (to) 'do your job', and this is the result."

Kennedy has become a mental health advocate throughout her career, and reflected on her journey after the biggest win of her life.

"I really had to go places I didn't think that have to go," she said.

"I had to learn a lot about myself, the way I think, my past, and I had to focus on me as a person and focusing on Nina, the human, has really brought out the best in Nina, the athlete."

After an early miss at 4.70m, Kennedy was flawless at her next three heights, going over 4.80m, 4.85m and 4.90m at the first attempt.

She missed her first attempt at 4.95m but it didn't matter, with 4.90m enough to secure the gold.

Kennedy's experience in Paris was a stark contrast to what happened three years ago in Tokyo, where she settled at 4.40m while jumping injured.

Kennedy's first global medal was a bronze at the 2022 World Championships.

She and Moon decided to share the gold medal at last year's World Championships in Budapest, a decision that polarised people. This time there would be no sharing. Kennedy was ready to sit on the throne alone.

"One thing about pole vault is first attempt clearances are so important. I wasn't going to share with Katie," she said.

Kennedy was joined in her celebrations by compatriot Matt Denny, who contributed to the record day 12 medal tally with a bronze in the men's discus.

The much-loved Australian (69.31m) briefly held the gold medal spot after pushing within 4cm of his personal best on his second effort.

But world champion and favourite Mykolas Alekna (69.97) answered right back, breaking his father Virgilijus's Olympic record that also secured discus gold in Athens 20 years ago.

Stona came from nowhere though, bettering a 66.16 to move from seventh with a new Olympic mark of 70m that would not be eclipsed in the final round of throws.

Denny's breakthrough podium — the first for an Australian in the event — is long overdue.

The 28-year-old from Allora in country Queensland denied bronze in Tokyo by just 5cm and boasting top-six finishes, including a fourth, at the last three world championships.

With AAP