Her team, the Australian Stingrays, beat the highly-fancied Japan 16-15 in the womens final of the Under 23 Ultimate Frisbee World Championships in Florence, Italy in late July.

Ultimate Frisbee, or just ultimate to those in the know, is a high-energy, free-spirited alternative team sport played world-wide.

Two teams of seven players, plus substitutes, compete on a soccer-field size pitch to pass and eventually catch the flying disc in their goal zone.

It's a fast, challenging non-contact game -- and without a referee as players are responsible for adhering to the rules.

Games last about 100 minutes.

Australia reached the finals after losing to both Canada and Japan in the preliminary rounds.

They accounted for the tough Canadians 14/11 in the semi-final, then meeting the Japan team in the final at the Rodolfi Stadium on July 25th.

Japan led 9-8 at half-time, but the Aussies scored the next three goals and were not headed from then on.

The disciplined Japanese surged repeatedly to draw level at 13-all, 14-all and 15-all, with the Stingrays fighting back each time.

Finally, as time ran out after almost two hours, a golden goal would win it.

The disc was launched into the Australian goal zone and the Australian receiver Michelle Phillips fell, then leapt between two Japanese defenders to take the winning catch.

Like many of her team-mates Stephanie Malcher, now based in Melbourne, started playing ultimate at university.

After playing club ultimate for several years she was selected in the Under 23 Australian team to play in Florence.

Junior and Open World championships have been played for the past 30-plus years, but the new U23 competition recognises the rapid growth in the sport, especially in universities.

With the success of the Stingrays, Australia has finally won its first gold medal in international Ultimate competition.