SYDNEY, July 16: Olympic 400m champion Cathy Freeman says she is worried about the level of her fitness following her late decision to join the 4x400m Australian women’s relay squad at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

Freeman said she would run in the relay beginning on July 29 but adhered to her previous decision not to run in the individual 400m, the event she won at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Freeman, returning from a year’s sabbatical after the Sydney Games, put on hold her preparation for the Games in May to look after husband Sandy Bodecker, who is being treated for throat cancer.

“I’m just a bit worried about my fitness but I think I’ve got a bit more time on my side and my coach is confident,” Freeman said in a television interview here on Tuesday.

“And my body has an amazing memory with all the workload it has accumulated in it in the last 10 years or eight years.”

Her coach Peter Fortune acknowledged on Monday that the 29-year-old Freeman would not be at her best in Manchester, but would still boost Australia’s relay squad.

A place in the relay team had been held open for Freeman despite her missing the Games selection meet because of a thigh injury.

Freeman will leave for Manchester on Sunday and will only compete in the relay heats and, if all goes to plan, the final on July 30 before flying back to Australia the next day.—AFP