Nearly two years after a surgery that up-ended her life, Emma Dieters is on top of the world. 

The 40-year-old from Sydney's Northern Beaches has won the women's prone 2 division at the World Para Surfing Championships in Pismo Beach, California.

"I cant even believe that's happened. It's a surreal feeling, I'm really stoked," she said.

From surgery setback to surfing again

Dieters had suffered from bad neck pain due to a bulging disc for years.

In February 2021, she decided to undertake a spinal fusion surgery to help her become more mobile, and pain free. 

But the surgery went wrong, and she became an incomplete quadriplegic at the C4 level. 

She spent five months in hospital and rehabilitation and when she emerged she was determined to return to surfing.

With encouragement from fellow para surfer Sam Bloom, Dieters entered her first adaptive competition in August, and finished second in the Australian Surf Championships. 

And she went one better on the biggest stage of all, producing two high-scoring waves of 8.33 and 8.93 in the final in California. 

Dieters' two children were watching on, and her husband was her support person in the water. 

"I've got champions who are right by my side, helping me, giving me direction and just want to thank them for all the encouragement and support and just the good vibe with the crew here," she said.

Neumueller makes it one-two for Australia

Fellow Australian and reigning world champion Jocelyn Neumueller claimed the silver medal. 

Neumueller represented Australia in para-canoe at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, and won gold at the 2017 ICF World Sprint Word Championships.

Soon after that victory, she paralysed her left arm during a training session, and she switched to surfing for her recovery. 

Dieters paid tribute to her teammate.

"She's a great competitor, she did an amazing job out there," she said.

"We always have good little battles, it helps to push us get better and better each time we're out in the water."