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When a vacancy came up on the £500 million Olympic stadium project in Stratford, Mike Dobriskey wanted the job more than most.
He is helping to create the venue where 80,000 spectators will - he hopes - watch his daughter run to Olympic glory.
At 25, Kent-born Lisa Dobriskey is Commonwealth 1,500m champion, finished fourth at the Beijing Games and is tipped to go one better by being a medal winner in 2012.
She visited her father at the Olympic site for the first time this week, where the steel roof supports of the stadium have been assembled for a summer 2011 completion date.
Mr Dobriskey has worked on the Olympic project since the start of last year when the first foundations were dug. The expert in soil analysis is a consultant for Sir Robert McAlpine. He examines any suspected contamination.
Mr Dobriskey, 50, said: “When I got the job I went and stood in the middle of the stadium plot and phoned my daughter and said I've beaten you to it. I'm in the stadium before you'. It's just a sign of my confidence in her delivering the goods at 2012.”
From Dagenham, the Dobriskeys moved to Ashford where Lisa was born and her running career took off.
Her younger sister Sarah has competed for England as a hammer thrower and younger brothers David and Steven have reached county level at middle distance running, javelin and discus.
Mr Dobriskey said: “It would be really disappointing if everything stopped after the Olympics and the stadium was allowed to crumble.”
To this end, legacy planners are mapping out the use of the stadium until 2030 with track and field — for elite, club and school athletes - at its core.
Lisa believes that a crop of promising young female middle-distance runners, including rival Steph Twell, can compete in 2012.
“The London Olympics is so inspiring,” she said. “You've already seen the impact of hosting the Games in my event with the standards getting higher and higher. I'm desperate to get there in 2012.”
Reader views (5)
Lisa might have a Polish surname (passed down from her grandfather), but she's as British as they come. Have you ever watched her run or give an interview? She grew up in Ashford and studied at Loughborough University, where she still trains.
- Lisa'S Training Partner, Loughborough, UK
His problem is that he is a racist.He believes in the idea of british jobs for british workers.
- Tom, London
Phloss, London ... and your problem is exactly what ?
- T, London, London
Dobrisky - isn't that Polish. They come over here and father potential Olympic champions...
- Phloss, London
Thats lucky. After all the criticism for going out of their way employing anyone BUT Brits they just happen to employ a high profile Brit. What are the odds eh? Surely this is just stage managed media manilulation news to pacify the critics.
Leaving aside their definition of a Brit as anyone who turns up here. Just how many REAL locals are employed on the Oly site? 2%? more?
Super! Thanks Ken and Tony - a real winner that.
Happy for the bloke in the article but it is just tokenism.
Brown promised 'British jobs for British workers'. Tis a pity he's such a liar.
Keith Price - all yours mate. Tell us why Labour is fantastic and 90% of the country is wrong.
- Ethan, UK
