“There’s no words for it, really,” Salmon said. “I’m just really, really excited.”

Salmon was among the 109 athletes listed when Athletics Australia finalised its Gold Coast 2018 team on the weekend.

The 18-year-old had high hopes she’d get a start in the T35 100m, given she had run a Games-qualifying time of 15.92 seconds (her personal best) at the London World Para-Championships last year.

“I ran a qualifying time early on in the qualifying period, so I had a fair idea I’d make the team but going into the Rio Paralympic Games I was quite confident I’d be on the team but wasn’t successful, so I’ve tried to keep a level head,” she said. 

London last year was Salmon’s third World Championships, having also competed in 2013 and 2015.

But the Commonwealth Games will top those events.

“The World Championships are pretty incredible but this is another step up, especially as it’s here in Australia,” she said.

“And to compete at the same event with able-bodied athletes will be amazing.”

Salmon will be joining some big names on the team. 

“Sally Pearson’s up there, she’s an amazing person and an amazing athlete,” she said.

“And Kelsey Roberts, my new training parther. She is an amazing javelin thrower so it will be great to compete with her.”

Salmon was in Wagga over the weekend, but has just moved to Canberra for university. 

As well as studying to be a teacher, she expects the change to help her career on the track.

“It’s already been amazing. The facilities are incredible, and I recently got a coach at the AIS (Mike Barber) who’s employed with Athletics Australia,” she said.

Salmon said she’s set for a big few weeks of training, but won’t put too much pressure on herself.

“I want to be in the best shape possible, and I’ll just be going in there trying to the best that I can,” she said.