Sally Pearson Will Not Defend Her 2017 World Title

By Adam Kopet

Sally Pearson of Australia took to Instagram this week to announce her retirement from track and field.

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

I am here to let you all know that I have decided to retire from my sport of athletics. It has been a long 16 years, but also a fun and exciting 16 years. My body has decided it is time to let it go, and move forward onto a new direction. I hope I have made you proud Australia.

A post shared by Sally Pearson (@salpearson) on Aug 5, 2019 at 2:53pm PDT

Pearson secured seven global medals in the 100-meter hurdles and the indoor 60-meter hurdles during an international career that goes back to her winning the 100-meter hurdles at the 2003 IAAF World U-18 Championships. She won the 100-meter hurdles at the 2011 and 2017 IAAF World Outdoor Championships and the 2012 Olympics. Pearson also won silver medals in the 100-meter hurdles at the 20008 Olympics and the 2013 IAAF World Outdoor Championships. She won a gold medal and silver medal in the 60-meter hurdles at the 2012 and 2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships, respectively.

Pearson finishes her career with a hurdles personal best of 12.28. That ranks her sixth on the all-time performer list. When she ran that time in the final at the 2011 IAAF World Outdoor Championships, it ranked her fourth. She also has run 11.14 for the flat 100 meters and 7.73 for the indoor 60-meter hurdles. The latter is equal to sixth on the all-time performer list.

Despite her record in global championships in her career, Pearson has struggled with injuries. She missed both the 2015 IAAF World Outdoor Championships and the 2016 Olympics due to injury.

This year, Pearson has raced exclusively in Australia and Japan. She helped the Australian 4x100 relay team to a sixth place in May at the IAAF World Relays. She also ran a season's best 12.70 in the 100-meter hurdles a week later.

Pearson's retirement means she will not be defending her world title she won in London two years ago. She would have been given automatic entry into this year's IAAF World Outdoor Championships as the defending champion.