The 27-year-old from Ptuj won the World Cup season finale in Slovenia's Kranj on Sunday to reclaim the title she also won in 2011 and 2012. Markovič finished second in 2013 and 2014 behind Kim Ya-in of South Korea.

The Slovenian took gold with a narrow margin in front of Jessica Pilz of Austria, who posted the same score but placed second due to count back, and her compatriot Janja Garnbret. "It was a phenomenal end of season," Markovič told the press after the win.

She also defended her last year's win in Kranj to increase her overall number of wins there to four, equalising the feat by France's Liv Sansoz, who won there between 1997 and 2000.

However, the four individual World Cup wins in lead were not enough for Markovič to make it among the top three in the overall standings, after she finished second last year following three straight titles in 2011-2013.

Markovič is by far the most successful Slovenian sport climber, having also won gold in the 2013 World Games in Colombia's Cali and three medals at the European championships (two silvers and one bronze), including one in bouldering.

"This is definitely a nice collection. The fact that I was first or second in the last six season is phenomenal and it is really hard to believe it. It is definitely nice to look back at it," she said.