Daniel Samohin won the gold medal in the World Junior Figure Skate Championships in Debrecin, Hungary.

Ranked only ninth with 71.27 points going into the final freestyle round, Samohin produced an incredible performance to score 165.38 points for a total of 236.65 points, catapulting him to first place.

Samohin's gold medal came a week after he celebrated his 18th birthday. Born in Israel, Samohin has been living in California with his family since he was three but elected to represent the country of his birth. He is coached by his father Igor, former coach of the Israel national ice skating team.

Samohin said that he is proud to have made history and won Israel's first-ever major ice skating medal and he is now targeting qualifying for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Korea.

"It's still early and there is a long way to go but if I work hard there is no reason why I shouldn't be at the Winter Olympics in two years."