Australians have looked to Pittman to fill the void left by 400 metres runner Freeman, who retired last month, and she lived up to expectations with a shock 400 metres hurdles win at the world championships in Paris on Thursday.

Pittman's victory stunned even her father, whose shouts of joy woke his Sydney neighbours while he watched on television as his daughter ran down world record holder Pechonkina.

"I was hopeful that she would just come through it healthy and fit and I was expecting her to win the silver medal," Brian Pittman told Australian Broadcasting Corp television.

"I'm in awe of my own daughter, the courage and determination she had at the finish was just...I yelled so much I woke this whole neighbourhood up."

BIGGER THINGS

Freeman described the 20-year-old Commonwealth champion as remarkably mature for her age and said maturity would help her carry Australia's hopes at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

"She seems to have such a good head on her shoulders and her feet planted so firmly on the ground," Freeman told Australian radio after watching Pittman's victory.

"This experience will fuel her fire and her desire to go on to bigger and better things."

Pittman dedicated her win to Freeman, who in turn said there was little advice she needed to give her protege.

"Jana, darling, just keep doing what you're doing," said Freeman. "Do what you know, obviously your love for what you do is showing."

Athletics Australia head coach Keith Connor said he was impressed by the way Pittman ran down a tiring Pechonkina after the final hurdle to win in a lifetime best of 53.22 seconds.

Pittman's determination served as a lesson for other members of Australia's track squad, he said.

"I don't want to accept from athletes half-baked performances or attitudes," Connor told local television.

"She's 20 years old and she's showed a lot more maturity than some of the guys who've been around for the last 10 years."