Campbell, who also won the Paralympic pentathlon title in Beijing in 2008, set a new Games record on Thursday with a throw of 61.14 meters at the Stade de France. At 37, Campbell, who had the lower part of his right leg amputated when he was 11 months old due to a rare congenital condition called fibular hemimelia, has much to consider before deciding whether to defend his title in 2028.

In addition to his athletic career, Campbell is a coach and the owner of a mold remediation company in Oklahoma. "It really quickly does kind of take over," he said about his business. "So it's been a very interesting few years to learn how to manage time and to set priorities and to find that sweet spot in the balance."

Still, the temptation to surpass Oerter's legacy is strong. Oerter, born in New York, was the first Olympic athlete to win four consecutive titles in the same event from 1956 to 1968, and both he and Campbell share a connection to Tornado Alley. Oerter developed his passion at the University of Kansas, while Campbell honed his skills at the University of Central Oklahoma.

While Campbell remarked in Paris that "there's a good chance those are my last six throws," he also admitted it was difficult to think about the future with "these emotions coursing through me." "I think when I get home, I just spend a little bit more time reflecting," said Campbell, who revealed he and his coach had set a goal to match Oerter's record.

"Maybe figure out if I do go one more, what do I want motivation to be? What would it be? So that way I can honour that as I train (and) really just put my heart and soul into it." Age, however, may not be an issue, Oerter set his personal best at 43, well after his Olympic career. Having dominated the discus, Campbell now approaches the sport with a more relaxed mindset.

"I've been doing it for a long time, 16 years," he said. "But I'm starting to learn how to have fun with it now. I've gotten to a place in maturity in the sport, be detached from the emotions that used to override things. Now I'm just here for the ride. And really have fun out there like I did tonight. That makes a world of difference."

Unlike his victory at the Tokyo Paralympics, held in an empty stadium due to Covid-19 restrictions, this time Campbell had about a dozen family members and friends in the stands, including his girlfriend, though his two brothers, former rodeo rider Jacob and ex-NFL player Caleb, couldn't attend. After his win, Campbell rushed to embrace them, but the biggest hug went to his coach, Larry Judge.

"He's just been such a rock since day one," Campbell said of Judge, with whom he began working in 2009. "We've grown a lot together through the highs and lows. So we had a big hug."

Reflecting on his journey, Campbell expressed pride in his personal growth. "It's become a journey of just self-improvement, self-growth... I can really be proud of myself. I've grown so much since day one in every respect," he said. "It's been a lot of fun and arduous at times, but we just keep showing up." Whether that journey leads to one final competition in Los Angeles in 2028 remains to be seen.