Sally Pearson insists she remains the best sprint hurdler on the planet, despite being succeeded as world champion by flying US youngster Brianna Rollins.
Pearson would normally be profoundly dissatisfied with anything less than gold, but was proud to pocket silver in Moscow after battling back from two torn hamstrings early in the year.
Even though Rollins won their first head-to-head encounter - and owns a personal best two hundredths of a second quicker than the Australian has ever run - Pearson is more certain than ever that she remains the one to beat in the 100m hurdles.
"Most definitely - especially after that final," the 26-year-old Queenslander said on Sunday.
"The semi-final and final, I would say in my heart when I am at my best I am the best one out there."
Pearson equalled her season's best of 12.50 seconds in the final in Moscow, with Rollins - who turned 22 on Sunday - overcoming an awful start in the decider to win in 12.44.
"You can't say what if or would've or could've or whatever - but if I had been 100 per cent I would have smashed that race," said Pearson.
"It gives me more excitement knowing that with an uninterrupted preparation, competitions leading up to it would have been a lot faster and obviously back into my winning form, who knows what can happen.
"It really excites me that I know when it counts I can still deliver. I only got beaten by the narrowest of margins by girls who are in their best shape.
"That excites me the most, more than anything, because really they should have been so far ahead of me, they should have smashed me out of the blocks and over the race but they didn't."
In better shape now than at any time since last year's Olympic triumph, Pearson will spend the next month racing on the European grand prix season where she hopes to run some times in the 12.4 range.
Next year, she will defend her world indoor and Commonwealth crowns.
In contrast to the weak 100m hurdles field she faced at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, next year's event in Glasgow shapes as a much more competitive affair.
Britain's Tiffany Porter ran a PB of 12.55 to claim bronze in the world championships final and consistent Canadian Angela Whyte was sixth.
Pearson's coach Sharon Hannan was also impressed with the promise shown by young Jamaican sisters Danielle and Shermaine Williams, who qualified for the semis in Moscow.
Looking ahead to Glasgow, Pearson intends to repeat the 100m flat and hurdles double she last attempted in Delhi - when only a controversial false start in the 100m denied her a second gold medal.
The 200m would also have been on the agenda had it not clash with the hurdles, while the 4x100m relay is a priority in what shapes as a very busy campaign in Glasgow.
Pearson will also retain the Australian team captaincy, a role she inherited from pole vaulter Steve Hooker.
