Rugby athlete Katharine Merry has received a surprise boost to her Olympic medal bid by the withdrawal of one of her main rivals.

Reigning champion Marie-Jose Perec has left Sydney to return to Paris after claiming she was confronted in her hotel.

The 400m runner, the main rival to Australian favourite Cathy Freeman, has been under intense media scrutiny, and had isolated herself from the Olympic village.

On the trip back home she became involved in an altercation with an Australian cameraman in Singapore, and her boyfriend was detained by police.

Perec’s withdrawal removes one medal obstacle facing Merry, who only took up the distance last year.

Freeman is capable of running much faster, and will have the home crowd behind her.

But Merry, aged 26, who grew up in Dunchurch, is hoping that she can follow along and try and get under 50 seconds for the first time.

She said:

“Meeting Cathy Freeman in the final would be a tremendous experience. All the pressure in the race would be upon her I would like to think that I can come through and give her a good race.”