Leon Sejranovic said it was "surreal" to make history for the country at the World Championships in Baku ©World Taekwondo

Australian taekwondo athlete Leon Sejranovic said it was "surreal" to make history for the country at the World Championships in Baku.

Sejranovic won bronze in the men's under-74 kilograms division at the event in Azerbaijan's capital, which ended on June 4.

This was Australia's first men's World Championships medal for nearly 25 years, and the country's first in any event since Carmen Marton won gold in the women's under-62kg in 2013.

"It feels surreal," said Sejranovic. 

"It's finally starting to sink in.

"I was going through highs and lows throughout the day. 

"Trying to recompose myself to go into each fight. 

Leon Sejranovic, right, won bronze in the men's under-74 kilograms division at the event in Azerbaijan's capital ©World Taekwondo
Leon Sejranovic, right, won bronze in the men's under-74 kilograms division at the event in Azerbaijan's capital ©World Taekwondo

"Now I can sit back and look at the day as a whole, and with a fresh perspective I'm super happy."

Sejranovic defeated Spain's reigning world champion Daniel Quesada in the last 16 and was eventually beaten in the semi-finals by Croatia's eventual winner Marko Golubić. 

"It's the first Australian medal in 10 years since Carmen Morton," he said.

"It's definitely a privilege and an honour. 

"It makes it more special feeling the love back home. 

"Going on my phone afterwards and seeing all the love and support. 

"I hope we can grow the sport in Australia and show young people from Australia that they can all achieve it if they put in the hard yards and devote themselves to their goals."