Sonia O'Sullivan has set her sights on winning the BUPA Great North Run later this month after returning to world-class form in London over the weekend. Catherina McKiernan will also compete on Tyneside.
The Cork athlete believes the half-marathon event on September 26th offers a further chance to prove that her Athens misery was a one-off disappointment.
A badly upset stomach almost led O'Sullivan to withdraw from the Olympic 5,000metres final, an event in which she had claimed a silver medal at Sydney four years ago, and she trailed home in last place.
But after bouncing back to form with a superb victory in the Flora Lite 5k Challenge on Sunday in London's Hyde Park, O'Sullivan feels ready to take on the world-class field in the north east.
O'Sullivan said: "It was good to get back into action and now I'm looking forward to the Great North Run."
She had to overcome classy opposition in the London race, claiming the notable scalp of Ethiopian Derartu Tulu, a bronze medallist in Athens over 10,000m.
"Getting back into winning ways and beating someone of Derartu's calibre and producing a fast time, was also very encouraging," O'Sullivan added. "The Great North Run is obviously going to be a very tough test for me but I know the course very well and know what preparations I need for the race."
Last year saw Paula Radcliffe run the world's fastest half marathon in the Newcastle to South Shields race, and O'Sullivan was left in her wake.
Having won the race in 2002, O'Sullivan is out to regain her title this year, and her prospects are boosted by the absence of Radcliffe, who continues to recover from her Olympic ordeal.
The news of O'Sullivan's improved form would seem to rule out the 34-year-old going into imminent retirement, which she had not ruled out in the days after her own Olympic disappointment.
"We're obviously delighted to welcome her back again," said Great North Run athletics director Matthew Turnbull. "She's very much a regular and always puts up a sterling showing."
Turnbull revealed that world cross country champion Benita Johnson of Australia will also be taking part in the race.
"Obviously there are other signings in the pipeline," he added, ahead of a trip to this weekend's Golden League event, seeking more elite athletes for the race.