Australian long-jumper Fabrice Lapierre confident of a gold medal at the Rio Olympics

WITH defending Olympic hurdles champion Sally Pearson out of Rio, the hopes of the track and field team rest with Fabrice Lapierre, and he’s confident.

Fabrice Lapierre is confident of a medal in Rio if he's at his best

Four years ago Fabrice Lapierre was in a dark place.

What had been a once promising career was off the rails and he then had to go through watching fellow Australian Mitchell Watt grab the Olympic medal that he firmly believed should have been his.

“In 2010 I was maybe the best jumper in the world, I was on top of the world, I jumped 8.78m wind-assisted in Perth, the career was looking up and I was looking forward to the 2012 Olympics where I thought I could have got a gold,” Lapierre explained.

“Then a few things happened, injuries and bad timing of a few things and I wasn’t able to go to those Olympics at all.

“That was a big turning point in my career because I missed out on a potential medal and I had a few years where I was down with the sport. I wasn’t kind of motivated.

“I would go out there and train, but I didn’t feel like I was giving 100 per cent, I was just going through the motions.

“I basically took 2014 off, I hardly trained or anything but still finished fourth at the Commonwealth Games.

I missed out on a potential medal and I had a few years where I was down with the sport. I wasn’t kind of motivated

“After that I realised I have to give it another crack and get that medal that I really want, that Olympic medal.”

The career-defining moment came when he joined forces with renowned US coach Dan Pffaf and moved to his Phoenix training base.

With a new direction and dedication — combined with some tweaks of his technique — the Australian started to find his groove again.

All the work paid off at the 2015 world titles in Beijing where Lapierre claimed the silver medal with a leap of 8.24m.

He followed that up with another silver medal at this year’s world indoor titles in Portland, Oregon, to confirm his status as a gold medal favourite in Rio.

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The key for the 32-year-old this season has been his consistency across the Diamond League competition where his best of 8.31m came in Rabat in May.

“I’m really confident,” Lapierre said.

“I’ve been racking up the podiums and if I keep doing that, then going to Rio with the big stage, the momentum and the adrenaline, anything can happen.”

With defending Olympic hurdles champion Sally Pearson out of Rio because of injury, the hopes of the track and field team now rest with the laconic long jumper.

It’s a scenario he not only enjoys but expects to thrive on.

“There is no doubt in the world that if I am at my best, there is no reason why I shouldn’t challenge for a gold medal at the Olympics.

“If I do what I can do and what I have been doing, there is no reason why I shouldn’t (win it).”