Sally Pearson retires but will continue inspiring Ashmore Little Athletics youngsters

Sally Pearson may be retiring but she will continue inspiring the next generation of athletes coming through on the Gold Coast.

SALLY Pearson may be retiring but she will continue inspiring the next generation of athletes coming through on the Gold Coast.

Among the Helensvale State High School graduate’s junior clubs was Ashmore Little Athletics, where aspiring runners are keenly following in her footsteps.

“She has actually still got quite a few records and not just for hurdles as a 15-year-old. She has got most of her records still there,” said Ashmore Little Athletics assistant centre manager Kelly Surch.

There was a big buzz in March when Dianne Waight broke Pearson’s long-standing Ashmore under-15 200m record.

Sally Pearson announces her retirement. Picture: AP Photo

It’s a feat many of the region’s brightest talents hope to replicate.

“What else can you say, it has been awesome to know she has gone through our club,” Surch said of Pearson, who recently donated equipment and signed posters to the club.

“Kids talk about it all the time.

“We actually have a lot of really good hurdlers and I can tell you for sure that my daughter (Emelia) is one that sits there watching those clips over and over again for inspiration and is just gunning to get one of her records.

Emelia Surch is an up-and-coming hurdler. Picture: Mike Batterham

“It’s pretty inspiring to actually have her records still in our record books and have the kids know gee, that’s what Sally was running, I can go for that.”

Pearson, 32, has been plagued by injuries in recent years but was a prominent figure on the world athletics stage for more than a decade dating back to her 100m hurdles silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

She would go on to win Olympic gold in the same event four years later in London as well as Commonwealth Games triumphs at Delhi 2010 and Glasgow 2014.