Katarina Johnson-Thompson was hailed for her never-say-die spirit after overcoming years of heartbreak to become a world champion.
The pride of Liverpool broke Jess Ennis-Hill’s British record en route to trouncing Olympic champ Nafi Thiam by 304 points.
She notched four lifetime bests in seven disciplines and her 6,981-point haul catapulted her into favouritism for next year’s Tokyo Olympics.
“Nobody can doubt her now,” said Ennis-Hill. “She has faced the best in the world and come out on top.
“To come back and deliver in this way with all these personal bests is incredible.”
Johnson-Thompson was still in shock an hour after storming to victory in her final event, the 800 metres.
“The two days have gone so fast and because it's been night time it feels like a dream,” she said.
"This is the result of so many attempts of trying to perform on this stage. It has been such a long road. But the low moments have helped me come back and look at myself. I think I have finally found a formula that works.”
Ennis-Hill had been alongside Johnson-Thompson when she crashed and burned in Beijing and Rio. She had been close enough to feel her pain.
“You have to get to the lowest point, the breaking point,” she said. “She got to that and she made big changes and decisions and they are the reason she has gone on to improve and become the world champion now.
“She had to find her way in the event and find her route to the top. I remember doing the lap of honour with the girls in Rio and Kat was broken there, questioning whether she wanted to continue in the event. I am so pleased for her.”
