Cathy Freeman is confident Sally Pearson can bounce back from her shock loss to win an Olympic gold medal in London.
Freeman contacted the world 100m hurdles champion via email after her rare defeat by American Kellie Wells in Saturday's Diamond League meeting and said Pearson seemed to be in good spirits.
"She's been kind enough to respond to my email and she seems fine really," Freeman told AAP in Sydney on Thursday.
"She acknowledges she wasn't at her best at that race in London recently and she knows what she needs to do.
"She knows what she wants, more importantly.
"I have no doubt that she has the ability and capability to win."
Freeman, the Sydney Olympics 400m gold medallist, expected the women's 100m hurdles gold to be among six track and field medals she tipped Australia to win in London.
Pearson's setback was not the only concern for Australia's track team this week, as 400m relay runner John Steffensen claimed headlines by accusing Athletics Australia (AA) of racial vilification and AA CEO Dallas O'Brien of lying.
Steffensen's tirades on television and twitter came after AA nominated rising teenager Steve Solomon for an individual run in the 400m ahead of him.
Asked whether she thought the public stoush would affect the squad's preparations, Freeman said it was hard to ignore so close to the Games.
"I've never heard such comments made before, which was all very interesting and definitely provocative and intriguing," Freeman said.
"Some of the remarks that were going around were quite astounding."
Freeman was in Sydney to help create a Telstra HeroMessage artwork for Australian athletes, alongside fellow Olympian Geoff Huegill and artist David Hart.
