KEY POINTS:
The minute the shadow of Valerie Vili loomed yesterday, it was obvious there was something different.
There was the patriotic new two-tone hair-do, a patch of her black hair dyed white to match the Olympic uniform she'll don in five weeks and one day. There was the studded belt too, which means toughness in anyone's books, even more so when the person sporting it is a muscular 1.96m.
But what really stood out at the press conference to mark her departure next week was a new, relaxed demeanour.
How could this be? Vili, the shot put world champion, is on the brink of the most mentally and physically-demanding challenge of her athletic career.
In Beijing she carries gold medal hopes, not just for herself, her family and friends, but the country.
You'd think this would be a tense time, especially for someone who has sometimes had a, well, uneasy relationship with the media. But before a gaggle of reporters and a cluster of cameras, she appeared relaxed, and someone taking life in her stride.
Sure, there were the usual "Val-erisms".
Asked about the distance she has been throwing this season, she said: "Trust me when I say this: my coach and I have measurements in our head that we want to be able to achieve when we are in Beijing that we will keep to ourselves. So don't even bother asking."
On the form of her main rival, Nadzeya Ostapchuk, the Belarusian who has just thrown a world best this year she said: "I have no idea - you'll have to ring up the Belarusian federation to ask them."
But her answers were more funny than put-downs. She even apologised for swearing.
"It's really good we can be competitors but at the end of the day we're all human beings and we all eat and sleep and shit like everybody else. Sorry, excuse that ... " she said talking about her and Ostapchuk's relationship.
"We're competitors but friends. We don't kill each other, know what I mean?"
Yes, Val. We get it: you're excited to be heading off on the journey of a lifetime to claim a prize you have yearned for years.
She declared herself in the best shape of her life at this stage of her preparation, saying she was stronger, more dynamic, and fitter and that technical changes she made this year have been working well.
For the next few weeks, she'll be based in Townsville and Brisbane, training and simulating her competition routine in two local meetings - one the Oceania Masters championships. The sight of Vili striding into the circle will be enough to turn competitors' hair white.
