O'Sullivan for Gateshead

Sonia O'Sullivan said yesterday that she plans to race competitively within four months of the birth of her first child which is expected in June.

O'Sullivan (29), was in Gateshead to confirm that she will run in the Great North Run over 13 miles, on October 10th, at the start of her build up to the Olympic Games in Sydney.

She had already started her pregnancy when she won the corresponding race last October, leading almost throughout to record one of the most emphatic successes in the history of the event.

"I didn't know at the time," she said. "I learned the good news after I had returned to training in Melbourne three weeks later. Obviously, I was delighted, even though it was a big surprise.

"After my baby is born, I believe I will have sufficient time to get myself race fit and do myself justice in the Great North Run. Otherwise, I wouldn't have considered racing over such a long distance.

"I finished my season by winning it last year. It's a prestigious title and I'd like to retain it. And if there are any difficulties, I still hope to be there as a fun runner."

O'Sullivan, who plans to continue to work out, until shortly before the birth of her baby, has returned to London from Australia with her Australian partner, Nick Bideaux.

Medical opinion is that the world 5,000 and 10,000 metres titleholder, should be able to resume hard training, relatively soon after giving birth. Liz McColgan, the Scottish athlete was back in training within a fortnight of the birth of her daughter, Eilish and within another four weeks, had won a five-mile road race in Florida.

O'Sullivan now hopes to emulate that achievement as she prepares to combine motherhood with continued success in international athletics in the coming years.