SWORDS has a new world champion following Luke Woods' heroic performance at the World Taekwon-Do Championships in Argentina on Saturday.

The 24-year-old was one of two Irish gold medal winners, with Cork's 15-year-old Dylan Fitzgibbon winning the other.

The national team scooped eight medals in total, adding two silver and four bronze in what was a hugely successful trip to South America.

Luke - originally from River Valley - was competing in the senior mens 57-63kg sparring and breezed through his early rounds, accounting for opponents from Switzerland and Canada, before meeting a Russian fighter in the final. He knocked his man down with a sidekick in the opening round and also connected with a clean headshot to build up an early lead that he never relinquished, matching the Russian point for point thereafter.

Luke also competed on the Irish team events in Argentina and is sure to return to Ireland to a hero's welcome when the squad arrives back in Dublin tonight ( Tuesday).