GETE Wami has been in the background for the build-up to the Flora London Marathon, with much of the attention focused on pre-race favourites Irina Mikitenko, Constantina Dita, Catherine Ndereba and Zhou Chunxiu.

The former world marathon majors (WMM) champion has been content to complete her final preparations with the belief she can win the world’s most competitive marathon after finishing second and third on the past two occasions.

Wami admits the 2008 achievements of defending champion Mikitenko, and the trio of Olympic medallists Constantina Dita and Ndereba, merit them being considered the likely winners.

However, the Ethiopian believes she would have also had another celebratory year, and possibly defended her WMM crown, but for a freak accident when she fell at the 30-kilometre mark in last year’s race.

The fact she picked herself up following the fall – which she recalled made her feel as if her teeth had been knocked out – to finish third behind Mikitenko and Svetlana Zakharova, was a remarkable achievement.

Achilles and tendon injuries followed, forcing her to drop out of the Olympic marathon and meaning she finished sixth in Berlin.

That setback saw her surrender her WMM top spot to Mikitenko, whose victory on home soil in the Berlin Marathon, in the world’s fourth fastest time, netted her almost £350,000.

Now Wami, one of the world’s greatest ever distance runners over all terrains, is adamant she is back at her very best after rest and treatment.

The 34-year-old believes she can fulfil her dream of winning in London, believing the absence of the injured Paula Radcliffe will make for a much more open race.

Wami, who has fought many memorable battles on the track and in cross country races with Radcliffe, said: ‘‘Paula is so much better than any of us and would have been expected to win and I hope she quickly recovers from her injury.

‘‘Without her the race will be run differently. It will be much more open and there are many other strong runners who can win it.’’ Wami, who underestimated Zhou Chunxiu – then an unknown quantity – two years ago, continued: ‘‘I think she will again be a big threat, as will Mikitenko and Dita.

‘‘But being injury-free and having had good preparations, I am confident of what I can do.

There has also been no pressure put on me.’’ Mara Yamauchi is again the best British hope, with Radcliffe absent and both Jo Pavey – who would have made her marathon debut – and Liz Yelling pregnant.

Yamauchi believes she can strike between two and three minutes from the personal best of 2hr 25min 3sec she achieved for third place in November’s Tokyo Marathon.