After missing the Rio Games through injury in 2014, Pearson is now targeting the World Championships and then the Commonweath Games on the Gold Coast in 2018.

But since splitting with long-term coach Sharon Hannan, Pearson is now coaching herself...and amazed by the results so far.

"I've been thinking about coaching myself for a number of years but I didn't think it was possible to do, knowing what I'm like myself," she told the AAP Sports Editors conference in Sydney today.

"I had a lot of doubts but I didn't have a coach or any idea of who I wanted to be my coach. If I wanted to get back into the World Championships, I had to start there and then so I started writing out my own programme. 

"I really surprised myself by how fast I'm running and how good shape my body is at the moment. I'm really keen to see how good I get myself at the Commonwealth Games."

Pearson is an ambassador for the 2018 Games and keen to compete in her hometown if she qualifies – but knows there's a still a long road ahead of her.

"I don't do lactic acid too well - last week I vomited after doing 120m," she said. 

"But I'm lucky i have a training partner who does do lactic acid well and who can help me with that and picks me up and moves me on to doing the next rep. Mentally I want to do that but physically my body is yelling at me to stop."

She says she has embraced the dual role of being athlete and coach because she's already proven herself as an athlete so she can focus on proving herself as a coach now.

"For me it's a lot less pressure as an athlete because I know what my coach is doing," she added.

"The responsibility is on me and no-one else. 

"I'm taking on the responsibility of being a top elite level athlete and also coaching that athlete as well. I still have to prove myself as a coach coaching an elite level athlete. I have calmed down as an athlete and listened to myself as my coach."

After missing out on the chance to go back to back gold in Rio following her success in London in 2012, Pearson, 30, is so far ruling out any thoughts of retirement.

She added: "When I was 13, I said I was going to retire at 30. Once I reached 30, I thought I can do more!

"Each day and each competition is important. I want to be on the first wave of athletes getting on the World Championships team and then it's about getting on the Commonwealth Games team.

"It's about the athlete listening to the coach and listening to the body and taking it from there..."