12 December 2008

Christine Ohuruogu will get the chance to start repaying the British public for their support since her Olympic triumph when she launches her 2009 season in Birmingham in February.

Ohuruogu – whose gold medal in Beijing has put her on the shortlist for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year on Sunday – has announced she plans to compete over 60m and 200m at the Aviva Grand Prix at the National Indoor Arena on February 21.

That is expected to be the 24-year-old’s first outing of a year that will culminate in the defence of her title at the IAAF World Championships in Berlin in August.

“I really enjoyed my indoor races at this year’s Aviva Grand Prix in Birmingham – they got my Olympic year up and running and I was able to maintain things all the way through the year to when it really mattered in Beijing.

“So it made sense to do the same again next year. These domestic meetings are vital parts of the preparation for major championships and will again be stepping stones towards the Worlds in Berlin later next year.”

Ohuruogu also spoke warmly of the reaction she has received since returning from Beijing: 

“One of the best parts of the whole Olympic experience was the support of the British people and the reaction since Beijing. Obviously the parade through London was really rewarding, but it is also all the people – young and old – who I simply bump into on a daily basis in the street who are so genuinely thrilled for me that really brings home what Team GB meant to people.

Looking forward to Sunday’s event she commented:

“I think what makes the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards so special is it is an award that is voted by the people and I think means the most to the British people. It is a programme I always watched when I was young and I remember seeing great names from our sport like Sally Gunnell, Denise Lewis and Colin Jackson in contention.

To be in the list of nominees for the award is a massive honour for me. It really has been a very special year with so much success to celebrate across the whole of British sport. People like Lewis Hamilton and Joe Calzaghe are phenomenal sportsmen and the best in the world at what they do and I hope it is a close competition between all the nominees.”

Ohuruogu’s sprint double at this year’s Aviva Grand Prix included a 7.45seconds effort in a rare outing over 60m and second place in the 200m with a personal best of 23.41.

Tickets for the Aviva Grand Prix at the NIA, Birmingham on Saturday 21^st February are available by phone on 08000 556 056 or online at www.ukathletics.net

Don’t forget to vote Christine Ohuruogu for BBC Sports Personality of the Year, Sunday 14 Dec 19:00, BBC 1 & BBC Radio Five Live.

Vote Now!!