Ultra-FIT magazine

The ultra-FIT interview

Christine Ohuruogu

Christine Ohuruogu – although a house-hold name after her World and Olympic 400m gold medals over the last two year  (not to mention a suspension for missing three drugs tests prior to the first victory) is a bit of an empty canvass to many. Not much more is really known about the 24 year old from East London. Yet, she will be spearheading Team GB’s 2012 Olympic track and field challenge and has the small issue of defending her world title in Berlin this August.

I caught up with Christine in Los Angeles in March prior to her starting the outdoor season, she’d had a good indoor season over 200m and she was in good spirits, physically and emotionally. I had a slight advantage over some of the other assembled journalists as Christine’s coach Lloyd Cowan was one of my best friends…… in fact he’d asked Christine to divert my incisive journalism (!) when I interviewed her by asking me a random question about myself and Lloyd from the deep, distant past. The pressure had been made worse by the fact that I had been told by Lloyd to ‘watch out!’. As it turned out I needn’t of worried as Christine asked me the question (which shall remain a secret) and then laughed when she couldn’t remember what Lloyd had told her, the ‘right’ answer should be. Other funnies and a willingness to not take herself too seriously (apart from when it matters) reflected Christine’s bubbly and genuine personality.

We talk about the forthcoming season, “I have goals, but my most important one is – and I know this might sound dumb – is to get the World Championships and try to enjoy myself. It’s been so intense over the last three to four years,” explained the athlete, continuing, “I think I have achieved more than I ever thought that I would have by this time in my life.” I acknowledge this reply and reflect that very few of Britain’s illustrious previous track and field world-beaters have achieved so much so young (Christine also won the Commonwealth 400m title in 2006). I ask whether she finds it difficult to remain motivated and to keep winning. Christine replies equally candidly, “Yes, I don’t want to be doing the same thing in 5–10 years, just chasing medals. I don’t think I could do that.” I suggest, albeit it somewhat negatively that losing a major title might not be such a bad thing, so that perhaps her hunger could return, just in time for 2012, “Do you think so? I’m still really hungry. With me it’s all about getting to the championships prepared and then when I get there I’ll do what I am best at, racing.” The 400m runner obviously has a steely determination, despite her charm. She knows how to focus and has a great belief in the training that her coach puts her through, “What Lloyd does is keep things (in training) very simple, basically he tells me to go out and run and that’s all there is to it. I try to remember when I go out on the track, that I have done the work and that there is no reason why I should run badly.”

 You can get to 200m as fast as you can and think that you are winning, but you’ve still got half the race to go ……you can win or lose in a step

How do you approach the 400m? In the Olympic final you were well off the lead round the top bend, did you think you would win? “The race is not over until you cross the line. I study many races, watch videos and assess different split times, to know that nothing is won or lost until you cross that line. You can get to 200m as fast as you can and think that you are winning, but you’ve still got half of the race to go ……you can win or lose in a step. I ask how she deals with nerves? “I do get nervous, but when I get on the track I recognise that I am there to do a job and every thing happens for a reason. You’re there because you are supposed to be there and that gives you comfort and that everything is planed out.” The focus is seemingly always there and Christine is a real racer, where does this come from? “I believe that track and field is an extension of myself. I like challenges. It gives me that opportunity to push myself everyday.”

Christine has won three major senior titles but does not race that much on the summer track circuit. “People think I prefer championships to one-off races but it’s not that I prefer them, it’s just that I have not had a lot of one-off races at a high level. When I started the sport, I was thrown straight into a championships (the European juniors) and that’s where I learned to develop my racing …. I don’t know anything else. Athens (Olympics 2004) was again the same. It was my first major championships as a senior, that’s when I tasted that high-life and realised that that is all you need to train for.”

So why the 400m (the toughest of all the sprints)? “We had a club race when I was young and there was no one to do the 400 and I was told to run, just do it and jog round. And because I was nice and polite (laughing) I just went and did it and won. So from then on it was the ‘4’.”

Set backs

Christine has suffered from Achilles tendon problems in the past and then there was of course the one-year suspension for missing three drugs tests. She explained that the injury was a result of her netball career (Christine was an under-19 England netballer) and that an operation had sorted the problem out – although years of running injured had affected her running style. Laughing at herself she explained that she has this, “strange lopey running style, where I kinda take my time,” but more seriously and worryingly for her rivals she added, “I know I can get faster and we’re working on that.” And those three missed tests in 2006? The ‘story’ has been told many times in the press. It appears that it was a genuine mistake and some of the aspersions from certain sections of the media seem out of order. As an international athlete myself, I know that Christine’s performances are within the boundaries of ‘real’ human capabilities and frailties. She’s moved on but the year out was a very difficult time for her. Lloyd was central to her continued involvement in the sport. Christine explained that he kept her on track and stopped her from giving up. “Lloyd is a good guy, it’s very rare that you can find someone who is willing to put themselves out for their sport and their athletes as opposed to making themselves look great.”

Christine Ohuruogu deserves superlatives, bathed in the golden glow of three major titles and the potential of more to come, yet blessed with a down to earth personality, a home victory in 2012 would make her arguably Britain’s greatest ever female athlete and bring her the true recognition that she deserves.

 

What advice have you got for people running for fitness?

Find a good coach, someone you can trust to give you good information, and encourage you.

You have to enjoy running and not just see it as something you have to do.

 

Thanks to adidas

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Interview by: John Shepherd