IAAF President Lamine Diack (R) poses with Lord Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee, and World & Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu on a visit to London to view the construction of the 2012 Olympic Park - 15 May 2009 in London (© Getty Images)
Christine Ohuruogu reflects on the Manchester street 150m, and her birthday party on the same day, her day at the Palace attired by a fashion house, judging the Sony Radio Awards, and opening the AVIVA UKA Athletics Academy. The World and Olympic 400m champion even took time out to visit the London Olympic 2012 site with IAAF President Lamine Diack and 2012 Chairman Lord Sebastian Coe.
"Hi again,
I can’t believe it is already the end of June and the T&F season is in full swing. Things are going well so far and all the hard winter training is starting to pay off. I ran a personal best in the 200m in the FBK Games in Hengelo and broke the British Record in the rarely contested 150m sprint in the Great City Games in Manchester.
The Great City Games was a brilliant event - a 150m track laid in the middle of the city and despite the weather the atmosphere was great as the crowd really got into the action. I spent some time with the golden boy Usain Bolt as once again he wooed the crowd with another world record and his usual showmanship. It was my birthday that day and we had a good party after the race in Manchester. He was happy cause Manchester United won the League title and I was happy to have a lot of my friends and family around me as I celebrated my 25th birthday.
Off track I have been extremely busy. I was presented with an MBE recently at Buckingham Palace by the Prince of Wales to honour my services to sport. It was a great day out for all the family and a very special experience to be surrounded by so many inspirational people. I was dressed for this prestigious occasion by top London fashion destination Brown’s – hat and all! Later that week I attended the Clothes Show Style Awards in London and mix with a lot of celebrities. A few weeks earlier I was a judge at the Sony Radio Awards and got to walk another red carpet.
I recently helped launch the AVIVA UKA Athletics Academy at my old school St. Edward’s in Romford. It brought back many memories from my school days and was particularly nice to give a talk to a group of kids that included my younger brother and sister, dressed smartly in their school uniforms. “We must get kids more active” is the motto of the Academy and one that is especially true for the current generation.
With three years to go to the 2012 Olympics in London I recently visited the site with IAAF President Lamine Diack and 2012 Chairman Lord Sebastian Coe. The site is less than a mile away from my parent’s home where I was brought up. The stadium is developing fast and is really starting to take shape. Standing in the stadium brought chills to my spine as I pictured the scene three years from now – the crowd, the atmosphere, the dreams, the plans. The London Olympics will be very special indeed. And it is all in my back garden.
Only seven weeks now to the IAAF World T&F Championships in Berlin and I have been following results from all around the world. My training partners are going well – Andy Turner has been winning races all over Europe and Simeon Williamson looks ready to break the 10 secs barrier in the 100m. With races every week we are keeping our coach Lloyd Cowan busy but he loves it and wouldn’t have it any other way.
Last but not least I finally moved into my new house and in the same week got my new car. My new website is coming soon www.chrissyo.com so watch this space.
Until next time, bye!
Christine"