An Australian automotive mechanic has beaten the world's best at the International Skill Olympics in Canada. Shannon Ashe finished ahead of international contestants from 21 countries to win the gold medal in the automotive mechanics division of the 35th WorkSkills Olympics. Shannon, a service technician from Leo Muller Toyota in Albion, Queensland, returned home from the Montreal finals as joint gold medalist after finishing tied with an Austrian competitor. The WorkSkills competition brings together the world's top technicians from a range of vocational areas in a competition to promote excellence across industry. Shannon was one of three competitors in the 24 member-strong Australian contingent to take gold. He progressed through regional and state competitions in Australia to earn the right to represent his country in Canada. In the final, mechanics were required to diagnose and solve problems across seven projects in such areas as steering and suspension, fuel injection, and diesel. The 22-year-old from the Brisbane suburb of Morayfield said he was overwhelmed by the reaction of his colleagues upon arriving back in Australia after his win. The 36th WorkSkill Olympics will be held in Seoul, Korea in 2001. Toyota Australia recently held its own national skills contest to recognise its finest service personnel, with Queenslanders dominating proceedings. Lexus of Brisbane's Steven Jones won the service technicians award and Rockhampton's Jason Massie, from Ian Weigh Toyota, the Airskills category. Perth's Martin Ridgway, from Galleria Toyota, was recognised as Toyota's top service advisor. Over 900 Toyota dealer personnel around Australia took part in the skills contest. The contest, held annually at Toyota's state-of-the-art $6.7 million training centre in Sydney, is arguably the largest and most prestigious event of its type within the Australian motor industry.