Any colour medal will do: Pearson

melbourne — Australian hurdler Sally Pearson will return to the scene of her greatest triumph when the World Athletics Championships get under way at the London Stadium, hopeful of capping an emotionally draining comeback with a spot on the podium.

Five years ago, Pearson stormed to 100 metre hurdles gold at the London Olympics.

Pearson returned to claim silver at the 2013 worlds in Moscow but has since been absent from the biggest stages due to a horrifying run of injuries.

At 30 years of age, with creaky hamstrings and a wrist that refuses to bend properly after a “bone explosion” during a sickening fall on the track in 2015, Pearson is nonetheless back and running fast again.

“I have to be fair on myself and remember where I have come from, remember what I have been through with wrists, Achilles, hamstrings, all of that in a short space of time,” Pearson told Australian media at the national team’s training camp at Tonbridge.

“But at the same time I am a competitor, so what do I choose? Do I choose to be fair on myself and just say, ‘just go out there and enjoy it and have fun’, yet my other side is going, ‘You are going out there to win’.

“I would love, deep down, I would love a medal. I really would love a medal.

“I know you really want me to say gold but that’s what I want, I would love a medal and I think that would be a huge success.

“Any colour, that would be a huge success.”

Since missing out on her Olympic title defence at Rio due to a hamstring strain, Pearson wrestled with thoughts of retirement before resolving to take another crack at the big-time.

She has plotted her comeback alone and there will be no calming words from a coach before she races on the world stage. —