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Olympic finalist Abi Oyepitan has backed Emily Freeman to step on to the podium at London 2012.

Oyepitan became the first British woman since Kathy Cook 24 years earlier to reach an Olympic sprint final, finishing seventh in the 200m in Athens before suffering a stress fracture in her shin which kept her sidelined for almost three years.

Oyepitan's comeback has been continually hindered by injury and the 29-year-old underwent surgery on her Achilles in September.

Great Britain failed to send a single female 100m representative to this year's World Athletics Championships in Berlin despite Jeanette Kwakye reaching the 100m final in Beijing.

But Freeman finished seventh in the 200m final in the German capital, posting a personal best of 22.64 along the way.

Jeanette getting to the final in Beijing was an amazing achievement so I don't think there's anything wrong with the coaching or set-up," said Oyepitan.

"I made the 200m final four years earlier and Emily Freeman was there in Berlin so not having someone entered in the 100m was just one of those things.

"When I was running regularly Emily would be in the team with me. I used to race against her and she's come on a lot since then.

"I've made the biggest final there is so that's what she needs to do now and once you're there you'll always have your mind on a medal."

Oyepitan will start training again next month as she bids to put her injury problems behind her.

And the Shaftesbury Barnet athlete insists she is plotting her own path to London - starting with the European Championships and Commonwealth Games in 2010.

"The shin injury was definitely the worst and has lead to everything else because I was overcompensating - this is going to be my last injury though," added Oyepitan, who is now represented by the Global Sponsorship Group.

"I just want to get my head down, take things slowly and have a great winter. I'm not in any hurry because next season is a long one with the Commonwealth Games in October.

"Both the Europeans and Commonwealths will be a great stepping stone and confidence builder for 2012.

"I always set myself massive goals but going to both is not a goal for me because it's not a case of me hoping to go, I should be going because I'm good enough."

More than the Games / Eurosport