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Olympic champion Ohuruogu returns to inspire East End children
Matthew Beard15 May 2009
Olympic gold medallist Christine Ohuruogu today described how she is inspiring a generation of young Londoners to take up sport in the run-up to the 2012 Games.
The Stratford-born 400m champion and poster girl of the London Olympics said she had been visiting schools and clubs in the East End to encourage children. In her latest visit, she received a rapturous welcome from pupils at Gallions Reach primary school in the Olympic borough of Newham, telling them they did not need to be “superheroes” to follow in her footsteps.
She told the Standard: “I've succeeded and I think it's nice to be able to go to kids and let them see that I am just as normal as they are and they can do what I have done. I think it's essential that we motivate them to go out and run and generally have a healthy lifestyle.
“I lived in Newham and went to school here and went to the parks so I'm not much different from these youngsters here. I'm trying to get my life settled after a busy year but I'm hoping coaching of local kids will be a regular feature.”
Ohuruogu, 24, looked relaxed after six weeks' training in California as she prepares to defend her 400m title at the world athletics championships in Berlin. She returned to
Britain this week and has a new agent after parting company with Nuff Respect, run by former Olympic sprint champion Linford Christie.
After the controversy following her 12-month ban in 2007 for missed drugs tests, her new advisers want to reveal more of the upstanding person known to her inner circle. That process began with a recent profile highlighting the importance to her of religion and her large family.
She is the second of eight children born to Nigerian parents. Her brother Kingsley is a talented footballer and 16-year-old Victoria is a national 300m champion reckoned to be good enough to challenge her sister for gold in 2012.
She is helping older brother Obi who has lost his banking job. “We are fortunate to have eight of us so we always have someone to help. He helped me when I was hit with my suspension. That's how it works,” she said.
Last night she was awarded the freedom of Newham by mayor Sir Robin Wales and today she will tour the Olympic stadium. With Sebastian Coe and Lamine Diack, head of the world athletics federation, she will be able to see how the arena is taking shape.
“It'll be crazy. Even though I've seen it I don't think I can picture me running there in 2012. Occasionally I allow myself to dream of winning it.”
As Ohuruogu departs, Jessica Bampo, eight, from Gallions Reach gives her verdict: “Christine is great because she tries her hardest and wins lots of medals. Maybe she can tell some of us how we can get to the Olympics.”
Reader views (1)
'Maybe she can tell some of us how we can get to the Olympics'
Let's hope she doesn't tell them the way she got there.
- Chris, London, 15/05/2009 14:03
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