A lesson in London Olympics heartbreak turned into a dream realised for Carmen Marton as she became Australia's first taekwondo world champion.
The two-time Olympian beat Korea's Kim Hwi-Lang 7-3 in the women's 62kg final at the world championships in Mexico on Sunday, a last-round spinning hook kick to the head sealing the gold medal.
"This has been a dream come true for me," said Marton, who narrowly missed out on an Olympic bronze in London last year.
"I have literally been visualising something like this since I started competing in taekwondo as a teenager and to have this day come true is beyond belief.
"After my loss in London at the Olympics, I vowed I would never let an opportunity pass me by again.
"I came out today strong and ready and more focused than I have ever been. All my hard work in the last year has really paid off."
Marton won all six of her fights at world titles in Puebla, including victories over China's world No.1 and bronze medallists Rabia Guelec of Germany and Switzerland's Nina Klaey.
It was a different story, however, for the 27-year-old's family of martial artists - her sister Caroline and brother Jack bowing out in their respective second and third fights.
The pair joined their parents in the crowd for the final, alongside Marton's fiance Safwan Khalil - who failed to get past his first opponent from Taiwan in the men's 58kg.
Khalil also finished in fourth place at London.
"The icing on the cake was to have my whole family here to watch my win," Marton said.
"I am honestly still in shock. Dreams really do come true if you work hard enough."
Australia finished equal ninth on the overall medal tally.
