Ohuruogu “doesn’t ‘die’ in the last 50 metres”

Christine Ohuruogu had done the impossible - twice! And even she was finding it hard to believe. “I just feel very numb,” said the recently minted Olympic 400 metres champion, as she made her way slowly through the ‘Mixed Zone,’ where the athletes meet the media after their events.

Indeed, her victory was such a surprise that everybody wanted to talk to her. After covering 400 metres in 49.62sec, the 50 metres of the Mixed Zone, including TV, radio and press probably took about an hour. And she was still numb when she got to the press conference even later.

The woman who won last year’s World 400 metres title after just two preparatory races, following a suspension, had now won the Olympic title - after just four 400 metres preparatory races in Ostrava (51.06), Reims (51.39), Luzern (50.99), London (50.80).

Even more amazing, she had beaten firm favourite, Sanya Richards, who regularly runs a second faster than her; and didn’t qualify for the 400m at last year’s IAAF World Championships in Osaka through illness.

With Olympic, World and Commonwealth titles, Ohuruogu must surely now have dispelled any doubts that Osaka was some sort of fluke. There may still be doubters, who think her one year ban for missing three dope tests should have precluded her from the Olympics. But even Richards said before the Games that she thought the Briton was ‘clean’.

So the woman who lives within a mile of the site of the next Olympic stadium, will doubtless become the ‘Face of London 2012’.

“I had a race plan, but it just went out of the window, said the 24-year-old Ohuruogu. “I couldn’t see Sanya,’ cause she was out in lane seven. I was targeting the Russian girl (Yulia Gushchina), I knew she goes off hard, but I didn’t go as hard as I wanted at the start.”

“I was really annoyed with myself at 200 metres. But if you’re going to beat me, you’re going to have to go off hard. My coach always says the race is won in the last 50 metres, and I’m able to keep my composure. I don’t ‘die’ in the last 50 metres. That’s how I run. It works for me”.

It certainly worked on Tuesday night. But, inevitably even Ohuruogu had doubts she could win. “I warmed up for an hour and half, but I had to keep stopping, I was so tired. I haven’t slept for the past two nights, the pressure was really getting to me. It’s a lot harder than you think. I’m just happy it’s over, so I can go to sleep”.
 
Ohuruogu is one of eight children, born to Nigerian parents in the East London borough of Stratford. She studied linguistics at University College London, and wrote a thesis on the evolution and provenance of swear-words, which might seem at odds with her Christian faith, but she says, “I find it really interesting, knowing where words come from”.
 
Asked about the relative importance of the Grand Prix circuit and championships, a loaded question, since Richards had won the Jackpot last year, even though she missed the World Championships 400 metres, Ohuruogu replied, You train for the championships, not the Grand Prix. Just for those three days. If you can’t focus for three days, then what are you here for”.
 
And on the possibility of renewed criticism over those missed dope tests, she said, “I don’t care what they think or say, I’m here and I won a gold medal today, and I’m happy. Why should this (medal) be spoiled, unless someone tries to spoil it for me. I’m very happy, I picked up three gold medals from three championships”.
 
Apart from that, she was having trouble finding words, or even thoughts an hour or two after her victory. She said she didn’t know how she would celebrate, “I haven’t thought about it”. And she couldn’t remember what Lord Coe had said to her on the rostrum.
 
“I just remember the fact that I’m here, and that I’ve won a gold medal”
 
Pat Butcher for the IAAF