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Even at 16 we knew Christine was so special, says first coach
Jack Lefley, Evening Standard20.08.08
This is East End girl Christine Ohuruogu taking her first steps on the road to Olympic glory.
The photograph shows her as a teenage member of the Newham and Essex Beagles Athletics Club, where her talent was spotted and honed.
Her time at the club was the beginning of a journey that led to Olympic gold when she stormed home in the 400 metres final in Beijing yesterday.
Ohuruogu's first coach at the Beagles today said that her athletic potential was clear the first time he saw her.
Everyone at the club still talks about the day a 16-year-old Ohuruogu turned up at the Terence McMillan Stadium in Newham in 2000.
The teenager, who also played netball for England at the time, was so impressive that she was put straight into an end of season race - which she won.
The following season club coach John McEwen began to mould her into a future Olympic champion.
He said: "Her talent was instantly recognisable. With almost no training she was beating girls who had been doing it for years.
"It was immediately clear she was something special. We sometimes let her train with the boys because she was too quick. I told her she would never be able to make a living out of netball but that she could go all the way in athletics. I'm glad I did."
Mr McEwen, 59, worked with Ohuruogu until she won a 400-metres bronze at the European Junior Championships in Finland in 2003.
Yesterday the quantity surveyor from Witham in Essex was willing her on with the rest of the nation when she reached the pinnacle of world athletics.
He said: "It was great to see her win. It's nice to think we helped her on the way to that gold medal."
Ohuruogu, who attends church every Sunday, was also a talented student. She achieved 10 GCSEs, four A-levels and graduated with a 2:1 degree in linguistics from University College London.
The 24-year-old lived with her family in Stratford, close to the London 2012 Olympic site, until last year.
Her Nigerian parents, Jonathan and Patience, were there cheering her on with four of her six siblings yesterday. Two of her brothers,Charles and Obi, were in Beijing to support her.
Her 15-year-old sister Victoria is a talented 100-metre and 200-metre runner and is also now training with the Newham and Essex Beagles.
The runner's historic victory in the Bird's Nest stadium was a glorious new chapter in a turbulent career.
She served a one-year ban from competition in 2006 for missing three out of competition drugs tests although she has never tested positive. But her father said his daughter's win marked the end of any questions hanging over the Olympic and World champion.
He said: "My daughter, my girl, has won a gold medal. We are having a party.
"I spoke to her on the phone and it was very emotional. The whole world can see she did it clean.
"You can see how strong she is. My daughter would never need to take drugs or anything like that.
"Now she is the Olympic champion people will have to accept the truth."
Ohuruogu, who trains daily at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre, will still be at competing age in 2012 and is a potential star of the London Olympics.
Figures from the world of athletics and politics have been queuing up to pay tribute to her.
Boris Johnson said: "I felt a huge surge of excitement and pride as I watched this truly impressive performance against the world's best female sprinters.
"Christine timed it to perfection, pacing her run to come from behind to storm through to the finishing line, thrilling us all back home and making it one of the most memorable track finals for many years."
Reader views (1)
Christine is an amazing athlete and a credit to Newham & Essex Beagles and to the country. I am in the photo above and am so proud to consider Christine my team mate. She is a lovely person and deserves everything she has achieved and more. Well done Chris - you did us proud!
- Kelly Montgomery, London, England
