SALLY Pearson’s heart sank when she felt two squeezes in her hamstring as she went over a hurdle on Monday.

The defending Olympic 100m hurdles champion was already facing a race against time to be fit for Rio and even the smallest setback was going to be a major problem.

Pearson was hopeful the issue was only minor but scans the following day ended her Olympic dreams.

“I thought it was just a hamstring tear and it would just take a couple of weeks and I would be alright,” she said.

“We went and got the scans and it showed that it was actually a tendon tear and any tendon in the body takes a long time to recover.

“I’ve had a few Achilles injuries and they take exactly the same amount of time . . . there was a risk of going to compete at the Olympics and doing major damage to my hamstring and then there would be no opportunity to come back and try to go to the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in two years time.

“So for me my sights are firmly set on the future although it is heart-breaking and devastating that I can’t be in Rio as the Olympic champion and try and run 100 per cent and be proud to represent my country.

“(But) it’s just not going to happen this year as my body is not allowing it.”

Pearson has had a horrible 12 months after breaking her wrist in a race fall in Rome last year.

The Australian team captain didn’t return to the track until last month where she struggled in three races in Europe before cutting short the trip to return home to find form and fitness.

media_camera Sally Pearson has broken down and will miss Rio.

Pearson, who turns 30 in September, has always said the Commonwealth Games in her hometown of the Gold Coast would be the perfect swansong.

“You can always go to the Olympics and make up the numbers and that’s fine, it’s fantastic to compete for your country at the Olympic Games there is no shame in that,” Pearson said.

“But for me personally I am a fierce competitor and I’m not 100 percent so I don’t want to go and represent my country if I can’t run at 100 per cent and chase for a medal, that’s not who I am.

“I know my body is not capable of doing it this year and for me I would rather get my body fit and ready so I could proudly represent country again in two years time at the Commonwealth Games.”

Pearson burst onto the scene by winning the silver medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and then made history with a brilliant victory at the 2012 London Games.

She also won the 2011 world title in Daegu, South Korea in 12.28sec - which was then the fourth fastest time in history.

Her road to Rio started to go off the rails last year in Rome and she missed last year’s world championships in Beijing.

Then when she returned to training, the Olympic champion was hampered by Achilles tendon problems which forced her to seek specialist treatment in Germany earlier this year.

She missed the entire Australian season and didn’t return to the track until last month in Birmingham where she clocked a disappointing time of 13.25sec.

Pearson backed up two days later at a small meet in Paris where she recorded an improved 12.92sec.

But after finishing last (13.14sec) in a Diamond League meet in Norway, Pearson and her coach Ashley Mahoney decided to cut short her race program and return home for an intense training block.

Unfortunately, her body wasn’t able to stand up and one of Australia’s biggest names won’t be in Rio.

media_camera Sally Pearson is set to take a break before looking at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Ups and downs of Sally’s careers

Highs

2012 London Olympics

Came in as the favourite, held her nerve and delivered with a brilliant victory.

2011 World Championships, Daegu, South Korea

The performance of her life, winning gold in 12.28sec which was then the fourth fastest time in history.

2008 Beijing Olympics

A surprise silver medal after race favourite Lolo Jones stumbled.

2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games

Defied injury problems and fall-out with head coach to win second Commonwealth hurdles title.

Lows

2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games

Tripped and crashed to track during final when in medal-winning position.

2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games

Controversially disqualified after winning 100m.

2015 Rome Diamond League

Crashed midway through race, breaking her wrist.

2016 Germany

Flies to Germany to see guru Dr Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt because of Achilles problems.