A year on from a shark encounter at the same event, Australian Mick Fanning won the 2016 J-Bay Open at Jeffreys Bay in South Africa on Saturday (16th July).

It was a year ago that Mick Fanning became a household name.

The Australian surfer the victim of a terrifying shark attack at the J-Bay Open event in Jeffreys Bay, South Africa.

He escaped unscathed after punching the great white shark in the nose and using his board to protect himself, but admitted that he didn't know if he would ever make it back.

But in an amazing tale of overcoming adversity, the Aussie surfer somehow managed to defy nerves and fear as he took the J-Bay waters once again.

Not only did Fanning compete in the tournament, he wowed the crowd with clinical display to claim his fourth crown at the South African event.

The 35-year-old - with the help of a 9.93 second wave - beat Hawaiian John John Florence and made no secret of the difficulties he faced.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Mick Fanning, 2016 J-Bay Open champion:

"Yeah I guess the first thing to overcome was just getting out there and not being so petrified. It was a long build-up, and I've got so many people to thank that have always been in my camp and corner, starting with my family and friends...hey kids!"

Aside from the infamous shark attack, Fanning has had to endure plenty of other hardships in the past 12 months, including the tragic death of his brother and the break-up of his marriage.

The win at J-Bay is undoubtedly a special moment for Fanning, but as he stated, it's not everything for the man with a renewed perspective on life.