STUDENT Alan Ward went to Australia as plain old Alan Ward and came back as a world champion!

The John Hampden Grammar School A level student was crowned king of the kayaks after beating all-comers in the World Championships Down Under.

He said: "It still hasn't really sunk in yet that I am a world champion. It is something that you dream about."

The 18-year-old from Stokenchurch came through the rounds and survived a nerve-jangling final before being crowned king of the waves at the U18 competition in Sydney.

He was the sole Briton who made it through to the five-man final, where he was up against two Germans, an American and a Japanese paddler.

And after each 45 second ride, he faced elimination as the judges removed one competitor.

But he held his nerve to see them off one by one until he was the last man standing.

Ward said: "It was horrific. It was the most nervewracking experience of my life. I was convinced that I would get knocked out and only get the bronze medal but I kept on going and going and found myself in the last round."

That put him up against one of the Germans in a winner-takes-all final ride and Ward produced the perfect performance to take the top honour.

"I was so overwhelmed when I won. The excitement was so intense. It felt absolutely amazing. I have never known a feeling quite like it. I couldn't stand up and had to sit down for a while."

The Marlow Canoe Club member then stood on the Sydney 2000 Olympic podium and was presented with a golden helmet as the national anthem was being played.

He said: "It was a really surreal moment and very emotional. It makes all the training worthwhile."