Ohuruogu strikes gold in 400m
Updated on 29 August 2007
Christine Ohuruogu is hoping to inspire others after claiming Great Britain's first gold at the World Championships in the women's 400 metres - writes ITN.
The 23-year-old stormed to victory, coming home ahead of compatriot Nicola Sanders in a surprise British one-two at the Nagai Stadium.
Ohuruogu, who only returned from a 12-month ban for missing three out-of-competition drugs tests earlier this month, posted a time of 49.61 seconds, finishing just 0.04 seconds ahead of Sanders with long-time race leader Novlene Williams third.
Ohuruogu, who only returned from a 12-month ban for missing three out-of-competition drugs tests earlier this month, posted a time of 49.61 seconds.
And she reflected having beaten off the challenge of Sanders: "It was very close. It is very good in terms of competition, it's what Britain needs right now, people competing at the top level. I hope that people take a leaf out of that."
Ohuruogu believes her success in Osaka was just reward for the hard work she put in during her ban, which only expired three weeks ago: "I am very proud of myself because I had operations on both legs, I trained, got up every day and did my work.
"I trained hard, always with the World Championships in mind. It (winning) was all a dream, you hope you would, but to have gone and done it..."
As things stand, Ohuruogu would not be able to compete at next year's Olympics due to a lifetime ban imposed by the British Olympic Association.
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