Rouquie, a 54-year-old lawyer and university professor, had travelled more than half way across the world to compete in the event held in Peru’s capital.

Given that she was unable to compete, she decided to make her way to the historical landmark set high in the Andes Mountains above the Urubamba River valley.

Rouquie made it to the summit of the 15th-century Incan citadel, perched on a mountain ridge 2,430 meters above sea level.

While there, she coincidentally met with WTF President Chungwon Choue, who encouraged her to tell her story.

"In martial arts, it is often considered that the path travelled is more important than the goal," said Rouquie.

"My path led me from Toulouse, to the 'Hwarang Academy' of Jerusalem, to Machu Picchu."

Rouquie took up taekwondo at the age of 37 and had earned a black belt within three years.

She was 42-years-old when she competed in her first national competition, while her first international competition came when she was aged 49.

In Lima, Rouquie was looking to fulfil her dream of competing at the highest level.

"I arrived, as the other 800 competitors did, with joy, pride and the desire to give the best of myself," she said.

"But on the eve of the competition, I got injured.

"I immediately understood that the intervention of a doctor or osteopath would not solve anything.  

"But as it is difficult to give up, I went in search of an unlikely medical solution…in fact it was not a doctor I was looking for, but a magician."

The 2016 WTF World Poomsae Championships took place from September 29 to October 2, with South Korea finishing top of the medal table.