Sally Pearson confident of defending gold medal at Rio Olympics

Olympic champion Sally Pearson says she is still confident of strong gold medal defence at the Rio Games despite struggling to a disappointing seventh in her international comeback from a broken wrist.

Hitting the track exactly a year and one day since shattering her wrist in Rome, Pearson was well off the pace as American Olympic favourite Kendra Harrison claimed victory in a Diamond League event in Birmingham, England.

But despite finishing second last, the 29-year-old insists the result hasn't dented her confidence ahead of Rio.

"Unfortunately the last week I've had a little niggle in my hamstring and it's been a bit frustrating," Pearson told Nine News.

"But I was so determined to get out there today, just to be in the environment (to) be in the excitement."

Despite describing her time of 13.25 seconds as "disgusting, Pearson says the slow return was just a minor hiccup as she strives to get some race miles in her legs after suffering 12 fractures and a dislocated wrist following a fall at an Italian event in 2015.

She pointed to her history of overcoming injury and adversity to claim podium finishes as reason for optimism.

"My lead ups haven't been fantastic in the last four years but I've always been able to come out and be able to deliver at least a medal," she said.

"I'm really confident about my lead up to the Olympic Games."

Pearson will continue her Olympics preparation with a trip to France, where she will compete in four events in 11 days before returning to Australia to cap off training ahead of the Games, which begin on August 5.