Olympic champion Cathy Freeman will return to competition next month for the first time in almost six months as she starts her preparations for the 2004 Olympics.

Freeman won gold in the 400m final at the Games in Sydney in 2000 but has been plagued by injuries in the last 12 months.

She was part of Australia's gold medal winning 4x400m team at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester last year.

But the 29-year-old has not competed in the individual event since the beginning of 2002.

On Friday her coach, Peter Fortune, revealed she would compete at Perth's Lakes Stadium on 8 February.

"Cathy's long-term goal now is to compete in Athens but, in the short term, her aim is to qualify for this year's world championships in Paris," said Fortune.

"She has committed herself for the Australian season which will be followed by the track season in Europe.

"She needs to see how her body holds up to the rigours of a domestic track season, but first of all she needs a qualifying time of 51.37 seconds."

Freeman returned to full training in October and has so far avoided injury.