Jade Jones jumped for joy after defeating holder Ah-Reum Lee to be crowned World Taekwondo Champion in Manchester.
Wales’ double Olympic Games gold medallist had won silver and bronze medals at her previous four world appearances since 2011.
This time, in front of a partisan home audience the Welsh wonder finally delivered the goods, beating her South Korean rival 14-7 in the -57kg final to avenge her semi-final defeat two years ago.
“It still doesn’t seem real,” said the Flint fighter. “I have been dying to win this title but it’s the one that has got away so it just feels amazing.
“It’s always been the one that has got away. Sometimes, you have doubts-maybe I am just an Olympic girl.
“But I have done everything now so I can go to bed and sleep at night now.
“When you have lost the worlds and lost them again, you don’t want it to happen again. There is a little chip on your shoulder.
“It still wasn’t my best and there is more to come.”
➡️UPDATE: @jadejonestkd has *FINALLY* done it 🥇
She takes out Ah-Reum Lee 🇰🇷 14-7 in the -57kg Final! 👊#KickingForGlory pic.twitter.com/EImcaw6VnI
— GB Taekwondo 🇬🇧 (@GBTaekwondo) May 18, 2019
The 26-year-old followed Manchester trained teammates, Bianca Walkden and Bradly Sinden, to claim Britain’s third gold of their home championships.
Jones controlled the fight from the opening few exchanges and through a 10-3 lead was reduced to 10-7 in the closing stages of the final round, the Headhunter pulled away to victory.
Having won her first major title in front of a home audience-the 2012 London Olympics- and she was roared on by a passionate Northern crowd as she broke her world duck and completed the full set of World, Olympic and European gold.
“I have always been so lucky with the fans and I think if I lose, they lose with me. That means a lot because it’s not pressure, it’s support.
“It’s a good club to be in,” she said of her appearance alongside Walkden and Sinden in the world champions’ club.
“I am extremely proud of Bradly-an absolute legend. He truly deserves it. Bianca, three-times a world champion, it just makes you want to be better.
“We are constantly pushing each other and it’s amazing when it happens.”
But there will be no Welsh golden double in Manchester after European champion Lauren Williams suffered what was seen as a surprise 31-15 opening round defeat by Kimia Hemati of Iran.
However, the Blackwood-born fighter revealed that she broke her leg during a competition in February and only returned to full-time training last month.
“I am absolutely gutted,” said Williams, one of the favourites for the gold.
“If there was a situation I could explain my worst nightmare, I have just lived it, unfortunately.
“I am just devastated. I had terrible preparation leading into it and I never wanted that to be an excuse.
“At the Turkish Open, I had a successful competition but managed to break my leg and the road leading up to this has been about recovery and trying to get me the best I can.
“I felt good in the warm-up and I felt good until I stepped on the mat and I wasn’t ready.
“It will take me a while to get over this because it is such a massive event. In sport these things happen but unfortunately, it happened to me. But I will be back.”