Aussie Rawlinson eyes Japan as final Olympic training

Australia's dual world champion Jana Rawlinson, troubled by a toe injury, said Monday she will spend the final three weeks of her lead-up to the Beijing Olympics training in Japan.

The hurdler's training has been disrupted by the injury, which required surgery in January, forcing her to miss the national titles and keeping her out of competition for several months.

But she said specialists in Germany had advised her that the toe will be in perfect working order for Beijing, although she may experience some pain during competition.

Rawlinson is hoping that by doing her final preparations in Japan she will emulate the acclimatisation and training regime she used successfully for last year's Osaka world championships.

Rawlinson, who won the 400-metres hurdles final in Osaka to go with the gold she won in Paris in 2003, said she is fighting to reach her peak fitness and form.

"Track and field is one of those sports that always has its ups and downs," Rawlinson told reporters at the launch of the Australian Olympic team's competition uniforms here Monday.

"I've just got to be really positive and put my best foot forward when it comes to Beijing."

Rawlinson said she will leave for the European season next week, but she will not run competitively until she is certain she is ready to go.

Looking ahead to Beijing, she said: "We are realistically saying top three this year.

"At this stage, I don't want to put any pressure on myself ... so saying gold at this stage would be pushing it a little bit."

Rawlinson's career has been beset by injury setbacks. She won the world championship final last August on 11 weeks' preparation, carrying a painful toe injury and just eight months after giving birth to her son.

At the 2004 Athens Olympics she reached the final days after knee surgery, and ran fifth.