World champion Tomas Dvorak broke the decathlon world record in Prague yesterday bettering a mark which had stood for nearly seven years.

The 27-year-old Czech amassed 8,994 points in the 10 events on Saturday and Sunday at the European Cup decathlon team championship to beat the record of 8,891 set by Dan O'Brien of the US in 1992.

Dvorak ran the 1,500 metres in four minutes 37.20 seconds in the final event yesterday having needed to finish in 4:54.04 to take the record.

On a day of sweltering heat, he also recovered from a frightening incident in the pole vault when his pole snapped in two.

Dvorak might well have set a world record when he won the decathlon at the world championships in Athens in 1997 but he sacrificed vital points when he nonchalantly strolled across the finish line in the 1,500 metres knowing the gold medal was already his.