Sally Pearson experienced a host of emotions as she flashed across the finish line in London to claim her sweetest victory.
But none more than sheer pride.
In her first major championships in four long years, having overcome a badly broken wrist and serious hamstring and Achilles injuries, this was a win for the ages.
On Saturday night, the 30-year-old returned to the scene of her 2012 Olympic triumph to secure a second 100m hurdles world title.
World record holder Kendra Harrison took the early lead, but Pearson had the American covered by the second hurdle.
She controlled the race from there, winning in 12.59 seconds ahead of long-time rival Dawn-Harper Nelson (12.63).
Germany's Pamela Dutkiewicz claimed the bronze in 12.72 and Harrison trailed home in fourth place.
Making the victory even more special was that Pearson had coached herself for the past year.
"From the first day I started training (in August 2016) I knew it was possible, I knew I could get here," she said.
"I remember someone saying `you can be the world champion again' and I didn't feel awkward about that.
"When I knew I felt that I knew it was in me to do it.
"If I don't feel that spark I know there's something wrong but I felt it straight away."
Pearson split acrimoniously from her longtime coach Sharon Hannan after finishing second behind Brianna Rollins at the 2013 world titles.
Australia's Sally Pearson crosses ahead of Dawn Harper-Nelson in the 100m hurdles in London. Source: AAP
Antony Drinkwater-Newman and Ash Mahoney then both had a stint at helm before Pearson decided that the best way to get back on top was to do the job herself.
It proved to be an inspired decision.
She assumed favouritism for the 2017 world title by clocking the fastest semi-final time of 12.53 on Friday evening and carried that dominance into the final.
"I don't know if it was surprise or what, but the emotion just escaped my body because I was so excited and so happy to have achieved what I have worked so hard for," Pearson said.
"I love this stadium, I love the people and I'm so happy to have been back here doing the same thing again (winning gold).
She joined 400m runner Cathy Freeman and 400m hurdler Jana Pittman as the only Australians to have won two world track and field titles.
Her next challenge will be winning a third successive Commonwealth title on home soil on the Gold Coast next year.
Saturday's final was the latest instalment of the great rivalry between Pearson and Harper-Nelson, with the American having relegated the Australian into second spot at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, only for Pearson to reverse that result four years later in London.
"Me and Sally have just battled it out for years and it's been so great to be here with her," said the 33-year-old Harper.
"Silver tastes like gold tonight.
"I am really excited to come out of this with a medal for the US.
"At the end, I could see Sally had won and I thought 'it's me and Sally again'."
