After going through "hell and back" this year, Isaac Cooper says he feels proud after clinching a bronze medal in the men's 100m backstroke at the world short course championships.
The 18-year-old almost gave up swimming when he was sensationally sent home from the training camp before the Birmingham Commonwealth Games for misusing prescription medication.
Cooper claimed he didn't take a banned substance, with mental health challenges contributing to the decision by officials to send him home.
But the Queenslander climbed out of a dark place to go under 50 seconds for the first time.
Racing in lane one, Cooper finished third in 49.52 with American Ryan Murphy taking gold in 48.50 and Italian Lorenzo Mora winning silver in 49.04.
"I'm really hurting but I'm so stoked with that time - I came in here on a 51.4 and finishing off on 49.5 - I'm so happy with that," Cooper told reporters.
"I've always known I've had the ability in me and I knew it was going to be a quick race but I had my fingers crossed for that medal."
Cooper hasn't elaborated on the circumstances behind his dismissal from the July camp but has been working with psychiatrists and psychologists provided by Swimming Australia.
He was thrilled with how he'd managed to bounce back to reclaim his status as the new face of Australian men's backstroke with Mitch Larkin in his career twilight.
"I'm proud of myself for how far I've come - I've gone through hell and back in the last couple of months and my parents have been beside me having to go through it because whatever happens to me affects them as well
"My mum would probably be crying right now - I'm surprised I'm not - I know they'd be proud.
"I know my coaches would be proud of me for coming back because I thought I was done for, I thought I was going to quit, I was in a real rough spot and now I'm standing on the podium for the first time."
