Pearson confident of London gold

2 Jun 2012, 3:41 pm   -   Source: AAP

World 100m hurdles champion Sally Pearson has used the low key surrounds of the Queensland Winter Series as her pre-Games Australian swansong.

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The mere mention of her Beijing Olympic silver medal almost made world 100m hurdles champion Sally Pearson bristle in Brisbane on Saturday.

What had been a great source of pride at the Beijing Games four years ago has now become a reminder of the missing piece in her bulging trophy cabinet.

And it seems Pearson is determined to change all that at London.

"Everyone thinks about my silver medal at Beijing," Pearson said.

"But you have to remember that I won the world championships last year, the Commonwealth Games before that and won a world indoor title this year.

"So I am already one step ahead of where I should be in my career."

Not that Pearson has to justify her results to anyone.

Still the fie sty blonde will be out to again confirm her status as Olympic favourite when she leaves next week to round off her London preparation in Europe's Diamond League circuit.

She almost sounded offended when asked if she was a chance of winning Olympic gold.

"I am every chance," she said.

"I am not going out there to get silver. I am out there to get gold.

"I can't guarantee that I will win but I can guarantee I will put 110 per cent into every time I race.

"I was confident at the world championships so why not be quietly confident this time around."

The low key surrounds of the Queensland Athletics Winter Series meet in Brisbane may seem a world away from the Olympics, but Pearson used it on Saturday as her pre-Games swansong.

She clocked 12.74sec in a three-strong field in overcast, windy conditions that may mimic what she faces in London.

But Pearson wasn't looking at times on Saturday - but that will all change in Europe starting with Thursday's Diamond League meet in Oslo.

Pearson took note of Olympic champion Dawn Harper's Diamond League Rome win (12.66 - well shy of Pearson's 12.28 personal best) this weekend.

However, she said she would use the Oslo event featuring world silver medalist Danielle Carruthers and medal contenders Tiffany Porter and Lolo Jones as a form gauge ahead of London.

She will also contest Diamond League events in Paris and London before tapering off three weeks before the Games.

"It will be a smashing field. You can't get a more perfect practice race than that," she said.

"I am in really good shape. I will just get out there and have fun.

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