Freeman chooses return to track

Olympic 400 metres champion Cathy Freeman returned to the training track on Thursday, ending a one-year break from athletics and turning her back on thoughts of retirement and motherhood.

"At one stage I even wanted a child, I thought I wanted a child," the Australian told reporters.

"I thought I wanted to retire (but) I absolutely do not want to retire," the 1997 and 1999 world champion added.

Freeman, 28, admitted she was eight kilograms over her racing weight as she began preparations for the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games.

She opted not to defend her world title in Edmonton this year.

"I certainly have no doubts that she can get back to number one in the world," Freeman's coach Peter Fortune said, adding that one of her biggest motivating factors would be proving wrong the people who had written her off.

Freeman, her country's most prominent Aboriginal sports figure, became a symbol of reconciliation between black and white Australians when she lit the flame at the opening ceremony for last year's Sydney Olympics.

DETERMINED

"I've become more ballsy and I'm really interested to see just how much better I can become," Freeman said. "My level of ambition has probably heightened. There's less chance of me getting burned out now."

Freeman is happy to be back in training, but said she would be even more pleased when she lost some weight.

"I feel and look good when I'm fit, I feel more indestructible that way," she said.

"It's like getting back into a comfortable pair of slippers, I feel like I'm home again.

"I'm really excited at my potential and at the possibility of doing things I've never done before.

"Ultimately, I want to be the best in the world again. I've done it before and I think I can do it again. It won't be easy but that's why I'm doing it."