Sally Pearson

Sally Pearson OAM is one of the world’s finest sprinters/hurdlers, with two world championship titles to her name and the 2017 IAAF Diamond League title. She was the first Australian to be named IAAF Best Female Athlete in the World (2011), an achievement she followed up by winning Gold and setting a new Olympic record in the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Sally is a great role model for young Australians. Comfortable in front of a camera and at ease behind a microphone on stage, she is passionate about animals, Australia, athletics and her family. Importantly, Sally wants to make a difference.

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At 17, Sally Pearson wanted desperately to be Australia’s next track and field champion. She knew that it would take hard work, dedication and a commitment that is beyond most teenagers’ comprehension. To her credit this did not daunt her.

In 2008 at the Beijing Olympic Games, Sally burst onto the World stage, winning the Silver Medal at her first Olympic Games. Sally’s lead up to the Games had been impressive and she had set her sights on making the final of the 100m Hurdles. The adrenalin of the competition, the jubilation of winning Silver and her now famous post-race interview will be lasting memories of the Beijing Olympic Games for many Australians.

By the time she was 20, Sally had anchored Australia’s 4 x 100m Relay Team at the Worlds and was Australia’s champion at 100m sprints and the 100m hurdles. She went on to be the World Champion, 2011 IAAF World’s Best Female Athlete of The Year and an Olympic Gold Medallist.

In London 2012 Sally came to the Olympic Final favourite and her event was one of the most eagerly anticipated races in Australian sporting history. Again, she stunned the nation, becoming just the 10th female Australian track athlete to win a gold medal, and smashing the Olympic record in the process.

Since then Sally has fought back from several serious injuries. She smashed her wrist in Italy, then suffered hamstring and Achilles tendon tears. This, coupled with coaching issues had many people writing her off.

Sally missed the Rio Olympic Games in 2016 through injury and it was at this point she decided to coach herself and come back from the brink of retirement. Her relentless pursuit of speed and perfection, when combined with grit and determination, saw her overcome adversity. In August 2017 Sally won her second World title and followed it up by winning the 2017 Diamond League Final. Sally made the ultimate statement… She is a champion!

Sally was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2014 for her contribution to sport as a Gold Medalist at the London Olympic Games.