Sotherton says she may concentrate on jumping in the future

Former 110m hurdles world champion Colin Jackson has said it would take a "miracle" for a Briton to win gold.

But Sotherton said a number of young British athletes had the potential.

"Come 2012, when they are mature and in their late 20s, we are going to be in greater contention for medals than we were in Athens," she said.

"We have got some great youngsters coming up, like Greg Rutherford and Jessica Ennis.

People don't realise how much pressure is put on athletes coming up to an Olympics, let alone one in their own country Kelly Sotherton

"To say we are unlikely to win a gold medal is quite ruthless, but maybe he is right, I don't know.

"Hopefully the athletes will be determined to go out and win medals but hopefully there won't be too much pressure from the press.

"I think putting too much pressure on certain individuals could be a disaster.

"People don't realise how much pressure is put on athletes coming up to an Olympics, let alone one in their own country.

"But the Olympics is full of surprises, Kelly Holmes was 34 when she won two gold medals - anyone can win a medal with the right determination."

Jackson's comments came after he was "shocked and horrified" at the previous training regimes of his two new Welsh charges, 400m runner Tim Benjamin and 400m hurdler Rhys Williams.

606 DEBATE: Do you agree with Sotherton?

Sotherton, 30, who has always struggled with the javelin in the heptathlon, admitted she might turn her back on the seven-discipline event towards the end of her career.

"I might just turn to jumps for the last few years. It is less damaging to the body, I don't want to be strapped up like most multi-eventers," she said.