New Zealand's Aimee Fisher has won gold at the world canoe sprint championships in Denmark.
Competing in the women's K1 500, the Kiwi topped a field of Olympic medallists Tamara Csipes and Emma Jorgensen in the absence of Tokyo champion Lisa Carrington.
Csipes claimed silver and Jorgensen bronze, as they did at the Games.
Fisher competed at the Rio Olympics, but made herself unavailable for Tokyo after a dispute with Canoe Racing New Zealand.
An emotional Fisher says the last 12 months have been incredibly hard on her.
"It's been the hardest 12 months of my life I think, but at the same time it's been so beautiful," Fisher says.
"I've met so many incredible people and the team that I have behind me back home I wish I could see them all.
"They were definitely with me in that race.
I'm just the driver of a Formula One car you know. I've got this incredible team that deserve to be on that podium with me so thank you to everyone back home.
"That was so special. It's just special for everyone back home. It's a win for all of the people on my team."
Fisher withdrew from Games consideration last December because she felt the high-performance environment was unsafe.
Fisher would likely have been a member of the K4 500 team that came fourth in Tokyo.
"It's been tough. It's definitely had its moments where I wanted to walk away and give up and didn't think I could do it.
"It's like the icing on the cake to come here today and show to myself I can do this.
"I've been writing my own programme and just doing it differently. It's very liberating to have so much ownership of my sporting pursuits."
Fisher has yet to commit to the Paris Olympics in 2024.
"I don't even know right now," Fisher says. "I feel like I've made it to the end of this chapter.
"Go home, reset, reflect and make some decisions about the future but for now I just want to enjoy this moment."
