The Capalaba gymnast last week defeated competitors from across the globe to win the 15 to 17-year-old male division at the Aerobic Gymnastic junior world championships in Germany.

The championships are the most prestigious event in aerobic gymnastics (also known as sport aerobics), a sport that requires competitors to perform fast-paced routines to music.

Martin said he was very excited about his success.

“I was just hoping to do my best. I’m happy all my hard work has paid off.”

He said he had not expected to win as he was a little disappointed with his performance in the finals.

“In the preliminaries I scored only marginally better than Spain (the runner-up) and in the finals my routine wasn’t as good, so I was surprised to find I had increased the margin between us,” he said.

The Ormiston College Year 12 student said a victory in March at the Aerobic Gymnastics World Series in Bulgaria had boosted his confidence.

“I went in a little more positive knowing I had versed some of the competitors before,” he said.

The return of his coach Anthony Ikin from filming Channel 10’s So You Think You Can Dance in Sydney also helped his preparations.

Anthony was away for more than two months, but arrived home in time for a week of intensive training before the championships.