 Pittman beat American Sandra Glover to win her world title in 2003 |
World 400 metres hurdles champion Jana Pittman will fly to Athens on Monday and has a good chance of making the Olympics a week after knee surgery. The Australian, who tore a cartilage at the Zurich Golden League meeting last week, was initially expected to miss the Games but could now feature.
The 21-year-old has been undergoing treatment in Varese, in Italy, the Australian team's pre-Olympic base.
"She has a great chance of running," an Australian Olympic official said.
Pittman injured herself during a warm-up before her Zurich race, landing awkwardly after clearing a hurdle.
She had surgery on the affected area in London at the weekend before flying out to Milan for her rehabilitation, which includes her waking every two hours to ice her knee for 20 minutes.
Pittman, Australia's best chance of a track medal in Athens, has since admitted her focus is no longer winning but simply the taking part.
"My main aim is now just to get there, get through the heat, get through the semi and then if the final happens, sorry, when the final happens," she said.
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