O'Sullivan gathering final thoughts

For the three days between her heat and 5,000 metres final Sonia O'Sullivan has been relaxing around her Paris hotel, staying away from the Stade de France until tomorrow evening's race. No need for any more motivation, or excitement. They're already at the levels she wants them to be.

And for the first time since giving birth four years ago, her kids aren't providing any distraction off the track at a major championship. It was decided both Ciara and Sophie should stay back home in London, where they're being well looked after by O'Sullivan's mother and father.

All part of O'Sullivan's plan to be focused for tomorrow's final, which sets off at 5.35 p.m. Irish time. Having reviewed the outcome of Tuesday's two heats there is now nothing in her mind - nor in the minds of those who have followed her form closely this season - to suggest she cannot challenge once again for another major championship medal.

The only difference this time is there is a little less certainty that she can challenge for gold.

O'Sullivan hasn't been completely cut off from the action at the Stade de France. Her partner Nick Bideau has been in the stadium every day working for Australian television, and yesterday he talked of the increase in O'Sullivan's confidence brought about by her second place in Tuesday's heat, run in a season's best of 14 minutes 55.50 seconds.

"If you examine her record over the last three years you will see she needs exciting challenges, like these World Championships to be at her best," said Bideau. "She seems to have been somewhat jaded by the Grand Prix circuit for the last few years, with the same routine and so much pace-making taking the fun out of the competition.

"She still competes in a few of those races because they are still necessary, but in the last few years her performances in these events have been poor when compared to championship running.

"I also think she gets much more motivated now when she's running for Ireland, and you saw that in Sydney and the Europeans last year. She did have some problems this summer but the very thought of coming here to Paris sparked her drive yet again."

Already those puzzling runs from O'Sullivan in places like Lausanne, Gateshead and Madrid seem a whole lost season ago, and while Bideau did admit there were some concerns just a few weeks back, her second place in the Zurich Golden League was the clear and desired turning point.

"Zurich is the one meeting that does excite her, mostly because it does have the atmosphere of a major event. And when she seemed to be in trouble with her form before Sydney she went there and ran well. It was the same two weeks ago. And when she came home I said to her she could win in Paris."

One on-going talking point is which sort of race would suit O'Sullivan, fast or slow. While in the past her sit-and-kick tactics worked a treat, Bideau believes a solid pace would now fall into O'Sullivan's hands.

"Alan Storey (her coach) would tell you she does sessions in London now with a group of men that have all run at least 15 seconds quicker than her over 5,000 metres. And she can match them all. And Alan is also a great advocate of tapering down and resting for big races."

All of which would suggest O'Sullivan is much better prepared than for any other race she's run this season.