Injured world champion hurdler Jana Rawlinson says Sally McLellan's spectacular silver medal performance at the Bird's Nest was unforgettable.
"She ran her own race, she really held it together and it will be remembered forever," Rawlinson told the Seven Network today.
After becoming the first Australian woman to make the 100m hurdles final since Glynis Nunn back in 1984, McLellan broke Australia's medal drought on the track last night with a stunning silver.
It was Australia's first individual Olympic track medal since Cathy Freeman's unforgettable 400m triumph in Sydney in 2000.
"Nunn is an Olympic champion, so you're really putting her (McLellan) in quite a classy category there," Rawlinson said.
The 21-year-old Queenslander clocked 12.64 seconds - the same time as Canada's Priscilla Lopes-Schliep - but the Australian was awarded the silver in a photo finish. The gold went to American Dawn Harper in 12.54.
The spotlight was on McLellan to bring home some hardware after reigning 400m hurdles champion Rawlinson pulled out of the Beijing Games with a toe injury.
Rawlinson said McLellan had the quickest reaction time out of the blocks and stayed focused throughout.
"When the favourite (Lolo Jones of the US) went down, she didn't lose her focus which is a really adult, mature thing to do because she's a young girl with not as much experience as some of the other girls in the race."
McLellan now has her eyes firmly set on the London Olympics in 2012.
"Last night wasn't very fast ... who knows what can happen over the next few years," she told the Seven Network.
She said she knew she had clinched second place as soon as she crossed the line.
"I knew I got silver, I couldn't believe how long it took to get on the scoreboard," she said.
"I've just had the most amazing and incredible year ever and to top it off with a silver medal at the Olympic Games as a 21-year-old ..."
