Sally Pearson 'THIS WAS HARDER THAN THE OLYMPICS'

THE TRACK STAR SWITCHES LANES TO DANCING QUEEN

- Lizzie Wilson

Champion Aussie athlete Sally Pearson can still remember how many paces to take in between hurdles, but these days, the retired queen of the track can be found counting the steps needed for the cha-cha-cha.

Swapping her running spikes for dance heels, the Olympic gold medallist is thrilled to be taking part in the new season of Dancing with the Stars. Sally, 36, says she is eager to prove she’s more than just a running machine.

“I get to fulfil one of my lifelong dreams! I’ll let you in on a secret … I’ve wanted to be a part of [the show] since 2004 when it first began,” Sally tells New Idea from her Gold Coast home ahead of her toe-tapping debut this week on the Channel Seven reality series. “If someone five years ago told me I’d be dancing on national TV in front of a live audience, I would’ve laughed in their face.”

Arguably one of the world’s greatest-ever track and field athletes, ‘Sal’, as she loves to be called, has never been more confident in her own skin.

Raised by single mum Anne, the double Olympic medallist married her high school sweetheart Kieran in 2010. The couple share two children, Ruby, who is turning three, and Harry, nine months.

“I realised early on that I was made for motherhood – there’s no time to sweat the small stuff, which has helped me immensely since retiring from professional sport in 2019,” Sally explains.

“Ruby has told everyone down at the local park that mummy is in Sydney dancing in a shiny green dress – I think she’s more impressed I can cha-cha-cha than she is with my Olympic gold medal from the London 2012 Games!”