Great Britain's Christine Ohuruogu celebrates after winning the Silver medal in the Women's 400m Final at the Olympic Stadium on day nine of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA Wire

Heroic effort in 400m sees our girl just pipped for gold spot

Christine Ohuruogu championing the Recorder's Christmas Toy Appeal 2008.

The father of Newham’s track superstar Christine Ohuruogu spoke of his pride after watching his daughter’s heroic silver medal effort in the 400m on Sunday.

The Stratford athlete joked before her race that she may pop round to her family’s house, less than a mile from the Olympic Park, for a cup of tea.

But there was little need as Christine, 28, had the support of her family with her in the Olympic Stadium on her big night as she tried to defend her gold medal-winning title from the Beijing Olympic Games four years ago.

Ever since, Christine has struggled with injuries and poor form, but she found a superhuman source of courage as she charged down the home straight.

Moving from sixth place to second, she narrowly failed to overtake the US winner Sanya Richards-Ross but still ran the second fastest time of her life.

Continuing the phenomenal success of Team GB’s female athletes, the silver medal was a deserved reward for her determination to defend her title as World Champion.

One of eight siblings, the Ohuruogus roared Christine on in the Olympic Stadium.

Her father Jonathan said: ‘We were in the stadium to support her and the crowd was amazing.

“We are very proud of Christine and the way she kept going and the way she fought back at the end.

“Everybody was supporting her and we are so proud of how she ran.’

Finishing the 400m with a time of 49.70, Christine said: ‘It’s hard to not let the emotion of wanting to win distract you from your race-plan, but it was tough. Sanya is a worthy competitor, though, a worthy winner.

‘I have to be pleased with what I got. I should be happy with silver.’

She said the 2012 Games has transformed Stratford.

A committed community champion, Christine has often spoken of the need to deliver an Olympic Legacy in Stratford and fronted the Recorder and Community Links Christmas Toy Appeal for needy children in 2008, proving a hit with youngsters at Links’ HQ in Canning Town.

Neighbours in the Ohuruogus’ Stratford street were full of praise for Christine.