Sally Pearson out to break silver streak at Commonwealth Games Robert Craddock in Delhi From: News Limited newspapers September 30, 2010 7:44PM
SALLY Pearson has had enough of being the silver streak. She wants a gold medal and she wants it now.
The gutsy 100m hurdles silver medallist from the Beijing Olympics is one athlete happy to be in Delhi as she chases her first major international title.
At her first press conference, she uttered the sentence a Games plagued by indifference has been craving to hear: “I want this so badly”.
“I want to get my first title,” Pearson said. "It’s time for me to win my races. I want to get my first title here and go on to the Olympics.
"I don’t have a psychological barrier – I am only 24. I reckon I should peak around 28 or 29. But I already have a silver medal.
“I am probably in the best shape I have ever been in. I am really looking forward to seeing what I can produce. I am really serious. I did really (well) in the last Commonwealth Games but unfortunately I fell in the final. But I have learnt and grown from that.”
A string of withdrawals, the most notable being world number one Priscilla Lopes-Schliep of Canada, has left Pearson a raging hot favourite for gold.
“It could have been a world championships final (if everyone had turned up) but you can only beat whoever is in the race.”
After falling in the final in Melbourne in 2006, Pearson regrouped for Beijing. But her rampaging form was undermined by a back spasm which saw her finish fifth in the world championship in Berlin last year.
“It has taken me a long time to get over the disappointment from last year. But I have figured out I do love this sport. I want this so badly. I had to regain my confidence and love for the sport. Beijing was amazing and then I was on a high for so long. I thought I was invincible and didn’t look after my body in the way that I should have.”
Pearson was in red hot form at an international meet at Gateshead in England two weeks ago, dominating the 100m hurdles (12.85sec). She then showed her staying power to defeat the specialist sprinters in the 150m race (16.86sec).
She laments the fact there is no 100m relay and was surprised to learn she was nominated for the 400m relay.
“My heart is pounding just thinking of it. I am in shape. If they really need me we will see. My speed endurance is good but you need more than that for a 400m. I ran one as a 16-year-old when I put my hand up but then I burst into tears at the thought of it.”