What’s next for Sally Pearson after Gold Coast Commonwealth withdrawal?

SALLY Pearson must be increasingly flexible about her training schedules if she hopes to bounce back from her Gold Coast disappointment at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Sally Pearson is looking ahead to the 2020 Olympic Games. Pic Adam Head

SALLY Pearson must be increasingly flexible about her training schedules if she hopes to bounce back from her Gold Coast disappointment at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Raelene Boyle brings insights into Pearson’s task of managing an Achilles problem as she only moved up to the 400m at the 1982 Commonwealth Games, winning the gold medal at 31, the same age Pearson is now, because Achilles problems had prevented her from training to be a force in the 100m and 200m.

Pearson said that she knew “deep down’’ that she can be as strong and fast as she was during her 2011, 2012 and 2017 campaigns when she won two world 100m hurdles championships and an Olympic gold medal.

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Sally Pearson is looking ahead to the 2020 Olympic Games. Pic Adam Head

Australia’s 1990 Commonwealth Games heptathlon champion Jane Flemming said Pearson had pulled the right rein, by realising her career could have been “done and dusted’’ if she had risked a right Achilles injury at the Gold Coast Games.

Boyle, winner of five individual Commonwealth gold medals, said the most intelligent of track athletes heeded signs of training stress in their body.

Pearson said yesterday she would continue to be her own coach, a role she took on for her comeback 2017 world titles gold medal in the 110m hurdles.

“Some athletes — and I’m not saying Sally is one — don’t believe they can move forward unless they stick strictly to their regime,’’ Boyle said.

Pearson has a tough job ahead in managing her Achilles problem.

“You can still succeed as long as you have confidence in yourself.

“I don’t fear for her at all but she’s perhaps starting to consider time is tapping her on the shoulder.

“It does get harder to sprint as you get to your 30s. Your body just can’t take the pounding anymore.’

Australian team head coach Craig Hilliard said the frequency of Achilles injuries Pearson has experienced since 2015 could dictate that, rather than a customary seven-day training cycle, she works to a 10-day or 14-day training cycle.

Pearson was in strong form leading into the Commonwealth Games.

“She has a lot of training in the bank and can get away with that (reduced training program),’’ Flemming said.

“Her experience, which I think has been shown in this decision, means she will make wise decisions to get through it. It will allow her to continue on. A younger athlete would possibly have risked it.

“I don’t think Sally has enough time left in her career to come back from a bad injury.

“I’m not surprised to hear her say her very personal experience from the fall in 2015 played a part in her decision.

“It was a traumatic injury to break her wrist and it all came from the calf (and Achilles) trouble she had going into that race.’’

Pearson named three-time world 100m champion Gail Devers, who won a world titles silver medal at age 34, and Kim Collins, who won a 100m world titles bronze medal at age 35, as inspirations for what is still possible for her.

“I have to remind myself this is not over for me. I know deep down, I can come back and be just as strong as I was last year, in 2012 and 2011,’’ she said.

“I’ve torn my hamstring seven weeks before Glasgow (at age 27) and won gold. It proves to me that more than anything if I still love what I do, why would I give it up?’’

Originally published as What’s next for Sally Pearson after Gold Coast Commonwealth withdrawal?