By Andy Schooler, in Manchester

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Olympic 400m champion Cathy Freeman added another gold medal to her collection on Wednesday night – and then turned her attention to a third world title.

Freeman returned from her self-imposed exile in Manchester this week, running in the 4x400m relay and helping her team-mates to victory.

On a night on which she was overshadowed by the host country's performances, the Australian great ran the second leg as Australia surged to glory ahead of the English team.

And she is now confident of returning to her peak form in time for next year's World Championships.

“I'm so underdone from the last time I showed my face on the international stage,” she said.

“To try to get back to where I was before is going to take a lot of hard work but this is absolutely going to encourage me.

“Now I want to get in shape for hopefully a third world title next year.”

Freeman, criticised in some quarters when running when clearly not in top shape, said she was genuinely surprised at hitting the jackpot in Manchester.

“There were mumblings of a medal chance but not the gold. When I arrived, the thought of a gold medal did not cross my mind. I was more concerned with my level of fitness.”

She had originally opted to take a year off after the Olympics and subsequently missed the defence of her world crown in Edmonton last August.

And a planned return this year was delayed when her husband, Sandy Boedecker, was diagnosed with throat cancer.

He has now finished his chemotherapy and is taking the first steps on the road to recovery.