Sotherton backs herself for 2012

Sotherton hopes to improve on Olympic bronze in Athens and fourth in Beijing

Heptathlete Kelly Sotherton insists she can still be a contender at the London Olympics in 2012, even though she will be approaching her 36th birthday.

But the Commonwealth champion says she may focus solely on the long jump for 2012, and will be selective in the events she competes in up until then.

She told BBC WM: "I want to be in the best possible shape in London because I will be a couple of months off 36.

"But I don't see that as a problem, I still see myself as a contender."

I want to be in the best possible shape and the healthiest shape in London

Kelly Sotherton

Sotherton's season has been delayed by an injured heel, but she is hopeful of competing at the Aviva World Trials and UK Championships in Birmingham on 10-12 July, and then at the World Championships in Berlin in August.

For the time being, she is focused on the heptathlon, but is considering giving up that event in favour of the long jump before the London Olympics.

"I've already stated that I'm not going to go for the Commonwealth Games, fortunately I'm already Commonwealth Champion and it's so late in the season.

"I definitely won't do the indoor season the following year," she added.

"I'm giving myself more breaks, more recovery, so I'm in good shape for London. I'm making that plan now and sticking to it.

"Maybe next year, maybe 2011, I'll come off the heptathlon, but that's all to discuss with my head coach and my co-ordinator."

Sotherton explained that age is not the only factor behind her consideration of a change of event.

"I'd probably be doing this if I was five years younger. It's just that I want to be in the best possible shape and the healthiest shape in London.

606: DEBATE

Kelly is a great all-round athlete but with her javelin still letting her down and I think it's time she moved over to another event

"I've got so much training in the bank, I don't think I need to keep pushing it and pushing it, I just need to sustain what I've got and maintain it.

"That probably doesn't mean I have to train for 12 months of the year, I can probably come off training and have more recovery, and my body will be happier for it."

Though she is still convinced she can win more major championship medals in the final years of her career, the always straight-talking Sotherton also has a clear idea of what she wants to achieve after the London Olympics.

"What am I going to do after athletics? Make lots of money!

Sotherton struggled with injuries during the indoor season

"I always thought I'd coach, but I don't think I could put myself in that situation straight away.

"You spend your life at the track, I don't want to spend another 30 years there. Even though I want to help people, I don't think I'd be a traditional coach.

"I just want to enjoy my life while I can, while I'm young enough to, hopefully maybe have a family, that kind of thing, that would be a priority probably.

"But also, I want to earn money, so I have to find ways of doing that.

"I've got some good business ideas, so I think I'll probably be in the world of business, but helping my sport to progress and be successful.

"Hopefully I'm business-savvy enough, and I have a lot of contacts to help me do what I want to do.

"I'm not into being someone who's going to be stuck on the TV like sports people do, but I wouldn't mind punditing, or journalism, or PR, or media, something to do with sport as a whole, not just athletics."