Emily Seebohm has finally ended Australia's gold medal drought at the world swimming championships at Budapest after defending her 200m backstroke title on day seven.
Seebohm clocked a new national record of two minutes, 05.68 seconds to clinch Australia's first gold of the meet on the penultimate night of competition at Duna Arena.
It capped a remarkable comeback from 25-year-old Seebohm - an 11-year veteran of the national team - who considered quitting the sport after health problems sabotaged her Rio Olympic campaign.
Hometown hope and early pacesetter Katinka Hosszu (2:05.85) was second and Kathleen Baker (2:06.48) of the United States was third.
Rookie Australian Kaylee McKeown - just 16 years old - was fourth, clocking a new junior world record (2:06.76).
Seebohm couldn't control her tears as she looked back at how far she had come since her Rio debacle.
"I was pretty relieved and then I was honoured and proud," Seebohm said of her emotions after touching the wall.
"I was going to be proud of myself whether I won or came last tonight
"Getting back into the pool after Rio was really hard.
"It just proves to myself that it wasn't me. Rio was just one of those things that happen in life.
"Sometimes you have to go down to go back up."
Seebohm left the Rio pool in tears after failing to qualify for the 200m final as the hot favourite and finishing second-last in the 100m final, her pet event.
The two-time Olympic gold medallist considered retiring before being urged to give it another shot by her partner, Australian backstroke champion Mitch Larkin.
She later revealed that she had been battling endometriosis, a painful condition where tissue usually found inside the uterus grows outside.
She underwent surgery in late 2016 and has not looked back.
Seebohm has been a shining light for a frustrated Australia at the world titles, also claiming bronze in the 100m backstroke and setting a new national record to finish fourth in the 50m backstroke final.
Australia now have eight medals including five silver.
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