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I'll be ready for Olympic defence: Pearson

Sally Pearson's gold medal in London may end up being her Olympic swansong. If that is the case, it was as fine a finish to an Olympic career as possible. (AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS)
19th April, 2016
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Sally Pearson is banking on her unshakeable belief and the big-race buzz to help deliver her historic back-to-back gold medals at the Rio Olympics.

Pearson says she’s raring to go after returning in career-best physical shape to the starting blocks for the first time since fracturing her wrist in a nasty race fall last June in Rome.

No woman has ever successfully defended their 100-metre Olympic hurdles title, let alone after such a horror build-up.

Pearson, though, insists almost a year without racing has provided some major advantages, including greater focus on strength and conditioning work in the gym.

“It’s probably been my biggest training asset in the last four months and it’s made me really strong for when I have come back in the last six weeks to be able to power out of the blocks and go over the hurdles as best as I can,” Pearson said on Tuesday.

“In previous years when I start hurdling it’s a little bit rusty, a little bit shaky, but I felt really confident this time around.

“With my preparation and my rehab, it’s all been geared to having really good technique, (being) really strong in the gym.

“All those things put together has helped me start back in better condition than I have in previous years.”

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With just 109 days to go before the Games begin, Pearson is optimistic of being 100 per cent fit for her title defence.

The 29-year-old says she’s been “training the house down” and planning a low-key race return in about four-and-a-half weeks.

“I mean, it’s not a real competition. It’s sort of like a time trial more for me, simply because there’s nothing else around in Australia because it’s winter season coming and it’s a summer sport, obviously,” Pearson said.

“So I’ll have a few unofficial first races back and then I’ll head over to Europe and start my campaign towards Rio.”

Pearson pointed out that she twice tore her hamstring before the 2013 world championships yet still secured a silver medal and then suffered the same injury seven weeks before striking Commonwealth Games gold the following year.

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“So it proves I can still do it no matter what the build-up is into a major championships,” she said.

“That’s why I have that belief in myself that I can do it.

“I know how to race and I love the big stage. I thrive on the excitement and the adrenaline that the crowd gives you.

“That’s what I’m really looking forward to, getting out there being at my best and just thriving and feeding off the excitement coming from the people around me.”

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