As with so many young athletes, Eleanor Patterson dreamed of becoming a world or Olympic champion.

But in the aftermath of her dramatic high jump world title in Eugene on Tuesday, US time, she reflected on how close that dream came to dying.

After claiming Commonwealth gold in Glasgow in 2014 as a shy teenager from the Victorian country town of Leongatha, Patterson struggled to cope with the resultant pressure and attention.

She left the Rio Olympics in tears after failing to qualify for the final and then walked away from the sport in 2018, seemingly for good, having missed out on selection for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Australia has its newest golden girl in @eleanorpatto who has been crowned world champion. Eleanor becomes the 1st Australian female high jumper & the 10th Australian track & field athlete to claim a world title. 👉 https://t.co/HrK5xQZnuW#ThisIsAthletics #WCHOregon22 pic.twitter.com/9Hqs7xzYiI

— Athletics Australia (@AthsAust) July 20, 2022

The turning point came a year later when she moved to Sydney to link up with new coach Alex Stewart.

“The dream did die in a lot of ways because I didn’t set foot on a track for a year. I didn’t set foot in a gym for over a year,” she said.

“It was starting from scratch.

“I was sitting on the couch and it was dead, gone.

“It was not until the last couple of months before joining Alex that I was able to say to myself ‘I think I’m not done. I know I have so much potential’.

“This year I’m starting to bring those things to fruition.”

GOLD!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/gezPKIp891

— Athletics Australia (@AthsAust) July 20, 2022

Patterson readily admitted the comeback was far from straightforward.

“There was trial and error with my body, new training sessions, new training program, injuries, hardships,” she said.

“I was able to pull out some random performances but it hasn’t been until this year where it’s been such a pivotal moment of consistency.

“Even heading into this championships I had an injury coming in.”

Normally a picture of Zen-like calm, Patterson was much more outwardly emotional at Hayward Field on Tuesday, especially after a clutch third attempt at 1.98 metres that kept her alive in the competition.

She then powered over 2.00 metres at the second try and equalled the Australian record with a first-up clearance at 2.02 metres.

That proved to be the gold medal-winning jump after silver medallist Yaroslava Mahuchikh from Ukraine needed two cracks at 2.02 metres.

Even in the early years, Patterson knew she was capable of big things in her chosen sport.

“I knew I could clear big heights, I believed that I could be a high performer,” she said.

“… This is where I’m meant to be.

“I’m meant to be partnered with Alex Stewart, I’m meant to be in Sydney and I’m meant to be surrounded by these people.”