Perri won't leap into change

Reigning double European Athletics Indoor champion Perri Shakes-Drayton insists she will not be giving up her day job.

Hurdles specialist Shakes-Drayton won gold over 400 metres in Sweden, setting the fastest time in the world this year in the process, and was also part of the 4x400m relay team that took gold seven hours later.

UK Athletics head coach Peter Eriksson said in the wake of the 24-year-old's success that she should not consider a permanent move of events and Shakes-Drayton remains confident of her hurdling abilities.

When asked if she was looking to moving into flat racing instead of hurdles, Shakes-Drayton replied: "Not quite yet - for now Perri Shakes-Drayton is still a 400 metre hurdler.

"I look forward to doing my hurdle sessions and was straight back onto the hurdles after the Europeans - for now, I think to me, I'm still a 400 metre hurdler.

"Speed is the crucial thing in the 400 metre hurdles so the fact I've run a world-leading time gives me great confidence and I'm looking forward to what I can do over the hurdles now."

London-born Shakes-Drayton, who is a Lottery-funded athlete, was unable to make the final of her specialised event at her home Olympics last summer but is hoping her double gold success in Gothenburg can spur her on for a good season in 2013.

"Sometimes we go back there and think 'what if' but you can't really dwell on those things," she said.

"It is important that I ran well at the start of the season and got a European title under my belt and I'm looking forward to the outdoor season.

"Hopefully it is the start of great things for me, I just need to stay injury-free.

"Things just need to be on my side and go well and hopefully you will see the best of me one day."