Lauren Williams had struggled for motivation in the run-up to the World Taekwondo Grand Prix - now she has it back in bucketloads.
In front of family and friends in the familiar Manchester surroundings, Williams avenged her Moscow Grand Prix final loss to Matea Jelic as she claimed gold in the women’s -67kg final.
But, for a 19-year-old who had been itching to get on to the Manchester mats, the victory has given her a whole lot more than just the gold medal around the neck.
It proved the perfect way to end a tricky run in Grands Prix so far this season, successfully defending a title she won in London last year to prove that home really is where her heart is.
“I have sat in the crowd here with an incredible atmosphere thinking how much I would love to compete here," she explained.
“I am finally here so it’s another goal ticked off.
“It’s rare friends and family get to come and watch me. I have not had the best of runs in the Grands Prix leading up to this. I lost a bit motivation, but this has been perfect to bring back what makes me realise why I am here.
“It’s not been a bad year, but I always want better. I know there is so much more I can do. Again, this is another step in the right direction.”
Fellow British athlete Bradly Sinden earned himself a bronze medal in the men’s -68kg category.
The 20-year-old was guaranteed a medal once he made it into the semi-finals but following his loss to Iran’s Mirhashem Hosseini in the last four he had to settle for bronze, leaving a tinge of frustration.
Sinden said: “Unless you win there is always disappointment.
“I am going in the right direction, but I’ll keep pushing. Bronze is good, but I want to bring home the gold.”
There were five other British athletes in action on the opening day, with Olympic silver medallist Lutalo Muhammad beaten in the quarter-final of the +80kg category by Sun Hongyi, his first appearance at that weight.
Muhammad suffered a knee injury in his second-round win over Mexico’s Bryan Salazar, but refused to blame his defeat to China’s Sun on that knock.
"I don’t want to make excuses," he said. "This is combat, if you jump in the shower you are going to get wet.
“This is somewhat a baptism of fire, coming in straight in the big league and the size of my opponents I literally mean the big leagues.
“I am in a transition period. This is my debut at a new division. It is going to take me a few months to be a strong challenger to these heavyweights.”
In the same division, Mahama Cho was beaten in the second round by Turkey’s Emre Atesli.
Elsewhere, Josh Calland and Christian McNeish lost out with the former beaten by Sinden in the quarter-finals and McNeish losing in the second round to Javier Perez Polo of Spain.
Finally, Molly Dunbavin lost out in the first round of the women’s -67kg as she was beaten by Paige McPherson of the USA. Pic: GB Taekwondo Sportsbeat 2018