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Australian Olympians show off Rio uniforms
Australian Olympic athletes and Rio hopefuls unveil the official uniforms to be worn by the Australian Olympic team during the 2016 Olympic Games.
PT1M3S 620 349Tell her she can't do it.
Sally Pearson has been hearing as much for the past three years that she won't come back, that she won't win another major title, that too many injuries and not enough time to come back from them will end her career sooner than later.
On Tuesday, the defending Olympic women's 100m hurdles champion slammed the critics who have dismissed her just months out from the Rio Games.
Tough talk: Sally Pearson models the Australian Olympic Games team uniform on Tuesday. Photo: Getty Images
"The doubt has been happening since 2013 with my injuries and how I've had hard comebacks, coming back with little time to get ready," says Pearson, who is yet to compete since badly breaking her wrist in June last year. "It's the belief they don't have in me after all I've done for Australian sport and Australian track and field that I don't understand.
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"I just think, 'Hang on. I haven't even got there and you're already saying this? How can you predict the future? You don't know what I do in training and how quickly I adapt to things'. I never give up. It's been a horrible 10 months but I still believe that I can win."
Pearson was the biggest and brightest star at the habourside launch of the Australian Olympic team's adidas competition uniforms for Rio.
She will also lead a new-look athletics' team at these Olympics, and one that's brimming with confidence since the ugly departure of former Athletics Australia head coach Eric Hollingsworth, who bizarrely questioned Pearson's work ethic during the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014.
He was suspended and sent home after issuing a media release criticising team captain Pearson, claiming she was a bad example to younger athletes by failing to attend a pre-games camp in Britain.
Hollingsworth quit later that year.
With fresh faces like Morgan Mitchell (women's 400m) and Luke Matthews (men's 800m) now in the team after some breathtaking performances at last month's national titles, the team has been rejuvenated.
"There wasn't a lot of happiness in the team," Pearson said when asked about the Hollingsworth regime. "There was a negative vibe. In recent years, it's changed.
"It's different this year because there are so many new faces who haven't experienced that before. You can instil some confidence and belief in them.
"[My work ethic] was questioned. That's what will be brought back into the sport: that happiness and bonding and loyalty will be there."
To question Pearson's commitment flies in the face of almost every other expert you speak to about the 29-year-old, um, veteran?
"Yes, I'm a veteran now," she laughs.
When you meet her, your first reaction is to look down at her left wrist and notice the three scars following her traumatic fall at a Diamond League meet in Rome last year.
The image of Pearson bellowing in pain is not easily forgotten.
"My left wrist is quite famous," she says. "Three scars, 12 broken bones and dislocation … It doesn't move but I'm not in pain now."
That lack of movement means Pearson has had to modify the way she lines up for the all-important start, going from an "L-shape" formation with her hands to starting off with her knuckles.
She has more time to test out the change in an unofficial race in Australia next month before heading to Europe for their domestic season in June.
Perhaps the most significant moment in her comeback came just a week ago when she hurdled for the first time since her injury after exploding out of the blocks.
"The night before, I was quite nervous," she admits. "It's like I was racing the next day … When I got out there, all that nervous energy disappeared and I was back at work again."
She posted a video of the moment on on her social media accounts. That's about as much publicity as she seeks.
So this happened today!!! First time since 4th June 2015, now just got to get faster and faster!! pic.twitter.com/IIOzbxYddi
— Sally Pearson OAM (@sallypearson) April 18, 2016Asked how her life has changed since winning gold in London, Pearson says this: "Just being more recognised. Anywhere where you go, people do a double take, which is nice. My whole career has been about making sure I'm known for what I do on the track and nothing else. I don't go seeking media attention. I'm out here doing the best I can for me."