Olympic gold medallist Sally Pearson has broken her wrist at an athletics event in Rome, putting her World Championship plans for August in jeopardy.

The hurdles champion clipped an obstacle halfway through her race at the Diamond League event, leaving her on the ground clutching her wrist.

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Her manager, Robert Joske, tweeted she had two fractures and a dislocated wrist and that she would have surgery in Italy before flying home.

@sallyp100h to undergo wrist surgery in Rome in 6 hrs time after crashing in race… Wrist dislocated and two fractures. Coming home in days

— Robert Joske OAM (@RobertJoske) June 4, 2015

Her manager told News Corp one of Italy’s leading orthopaedic surgeons is seeing to the complex operation.

Her husband, coach and agent are with her in hospital.

“She is in a lot of pain and is devastated with the outcome,” Joske said.

“We’re unsure what this means for the rest of the season, what the recovery time will be and what impact it will have on the world championships.

“Knowing Sally it will likely motivate her to get back as quickly as possible.”

The World Championships begin on August 22 in Beijing.

Video of the fall has surfaced on YouTube, showing the star in visible pain after the tumble.