OLYMPICS – New Zealand’s latest Olympic darling and surprise pole vault medallist Eliza McCartney has had a taste of the big time and, frankly, she likes it.

So, even while her head was still spinning after a whirlwind 24 hours in Rio where the teen sensation, briefly, became New Zealand’s youngest ever female Olympic medallist with her stunning bronze in the women’s pole vault on Saturday, she was already thinking of the future, both short and long-term.

McCartney, 19, was surpassed as youngest medallist within 24 hours when Lydia Ko, born four months earlier, claimed silver in the women’s golf, but it did not detract from a dream couple of days in Rio for the North Shore athlete.

Just two years ago she was at a low ebb wondering about her future in the sport when she was laid low with glandular fever and forced to take most of the season off. Eventually she ploughed through that.

But a big move over the Kiwi summer saw her leap from age-group prominence into Rio contention, which she backed up in style by stunning an experienced field with her bronze medal finish, matching her national record clearance of 4.80m at the first attempt.

McCartney, the youngest competitor in the pole vault final by five years, received her medal at a ceremony at the start of Saturday’s final track and field session, and admitted it forced the emotions to swirl back to the surface.

“I started crying again when I got my medal,” she told Sky Sports in Rio. “The last 24 hours have been just the most incredible 24 hours. I only got three or four hours’ sleep, but as soon as I got up there I was wide awake

“My whole family were there and the New Zealand athletics team and support crew, all screaming their heads off. That’s what makes it so emotional.”

McCartney, grew up on Auckland’s North Shore with pop star Lorde , who she played in the same primary school netball team. Lorde was quick to join the nation’s celebrations McCartney’s Olympic pole vaulting heroics.

Lorde took to Twitter tweeting: “Ahhhhhh! Crushed it Eliza!”

McCartney has already started thinking about what lies ahead. It’s fair to say it’s an exciting prospect.

“I’m going to have a couple of weeks off and have a break from training. I think my body and my head need a little break, then I’ll get back into training again and see how I go.

“But next year looks like it will be a big year as well. The London world champs will be huge and hopefully I can get through a lot of the Diamond League as well.”

McCartney, who wants to be a doctor some day, is also hugely motivated to break the next major landmark clearance in her sport.

“Five metres is seen as a real barrier for women’s pole vault, but I really don’t think it will last for long,” she told NZ Newswire.

“With the talent coming through, and the rest of the girls out there, things are really moving forward very fast and the sport’s evolving very quickly.

“I think in the future, we’ll be pushing some heights near the boys hopefully.”

Watch out world, the McCartney kid is not finished reaching for the sky.

- Fairfax/PNC sources