With Oslo over, Berlin beckons
Bislett Games, Oslo
Christine Ohuruogu leaned on the railing in front of me close to exhaustion and said nothing. It seemed like the silence would go on forever. She knew she hadn't run well and was honest enough to admit it.
This was supposed to be the big rematch between the reigning Olympic champion and the woman she beat to the 400m title in Beijing, Sanya Richards. But in truth it was no contest at all. The American was a clear winner stamping her authority on the event in the fastest time in the world this year. Ohuruogu, by contrast, trailed home in a sluggish sixth and said afterwards she was "mortified." Some athletes refuse to talk after a bad race, but she certainly wasn't ducking the difficult questions. The only problem was she didn't really have any answers. Quite simply, she was at a loss to explain what went wrong, but was adamant she'd trained well and had fully recovered from a recent virus.
As gold medallist two years ago, Ohuruogu qualifies automatically for August's World Championships in Berlin, so will use the trials in Birmingham next weekend to sharpen her sprinting, running over 100m and 200m instead. That's the plan anyway, although I left her heading off for a post-mortem with coach Lloyd Cowan so that might yet change. One thing to remember though; Ohuruogu is the past master at getting it right when it counts. She may have only beaten Richards once in her career, but crucially it was in the Olympic final and you can bet that's the plan again this year. "I don't train to chase times," she said, "I train to chase medals."
Someone who believes he'll win a medal in Berlin is Asafa Powell, who confessed he's virtually running on one leg at the moment. He still managed to win the 100m, but was being caught with every stride by Antigua's Daniel Bailey. Powell's recovering from an ankle injury which he admits was preying on his mind at the start. He was virtually left behind when the gun went off and won't scare Usain Bolt or Tyson Gay with a time of 10.07.
The confidence is still there, but you can't help thinking the gentle Jamaican may have missed his chance to claim a major title. He told me he wants the world record back, but on current form surely it's a resurgent Tyson Gay who's the main challenger to you-know-who? All should become clear with Powell and Gay due to go head-to-head in Rome next Friday.
Watch out for a face in the crowd in Rome. The man they call the "Blade Runner," Oscar Pistorius is based just north of the capital in Grosseto, and is hoping to go and watch the third leg of the Golden League. The South African would love to run there again, but is struggling to regain his fitness after suffering multiple injuries when his speedboat crashed in February. He was a frustrated athlete in Oslo after failing to hit the qualifying mark over 400m for the IAAF World Championships in Berlin. There's still time, but he accepts he faces a losing battle.
"Something's going to have to flip 360 degrees for me to qualify," he said, sitting in the warm-down area with his head in his hands, and looking like he could do with a hug.
Oscar wore bright Orange in Oslo and he wasn't alone. All the athletes sponsored by Nike did the same, which lead to the rather ridiculous situation of five athletes in the men's 100m all lining up next to each other in the same colour. It didn't help that those with Adidas were all in one colour too.
How are fans in the stadium and those watching at home meant to tell who is who? It's just confusing at a time when the sport is trying to become more accessible. Do I not like Orange!
I'm 5 Live's athletics reporter and will be trackside with all the stories behind the scenes, the injuries and intrigue, the gossip and glory.
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The more I read about Christine Ohuruogu, the more she appears to be a truly great competitor and a fine example of an athlete making the absolute most out of their ability.
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She may not have ducked out of the big questions after that race, but the question about why she didn't try to get accross London knowing she'd be banned if she didn't is one she still hasn't answered fully.
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adamelvis2 - I think it has been, comprehensively and on more than one occasion. You probably weren't listening.
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She's failed to explain why she didn't even attempt to get there. Yes there was a chance she wouldn't have made it on time but it would have been tight. Many people have since attempted it and got there within the timeframe she was given.
Claiming stupidity doesnt't cut the mustard. This is her profession. It's literally the rest of her life - would you not have attempted to get to the test point?
I admit the actual testing system is a bit silly to say the least, but thats an entirely different argument.
I can't comprehend the logic of not making an attempt to make it. It COULD have cost her, her career (thankfully it didn't as I think she is a talented athelete). She has been incredibly lucky with the media though not using her as a scapegoat. Lets not forget Rio Ferdinand's fairly similar incident. It took him an aweful lot longer to gain the respect back.
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Your Rio Ferdinand argument doesn't hold any water at all. He was banned for less, walked straight back into the team with very little opposition from fans or media and within a short space of time was being touted and backed as a favourite for the England captaincy. When Ohuruoghu won the gold medal at the Olympics, the Sun ran a front page asking the BOA 'Please don't make this the face of London 2012' and she still faces pointless accusations from bloggers such as yourself dragging the whole issue back up again years later.
I've been through this all before in a previous blog. Yes, it was stupid of her to miss the test. Yes, perhaps it would have been possible to maybe make it (I can't comment on this) but it's not really possible for you to appreciate the circumstances at the time and it doesn't mean she has taken drugs. She was continually tested throughout her ban and after and has never failed one. Even the board who suspended her made a point of saying there was no evidence she had taken any. She won her medals with good, solid times but the main reason she did was that her 'better' rivals underperformed on the day and she took her chance with excellent tactical running.
Have you ever made a mistake in your life? Forgotten something important or done something amazingly stupid? I would guess you have. I have, even in my profession. The point is, perhaps now is the time for everyone to stop bringing this whole issue, once again, into totally unrelated debates.
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Rio Ferdinand did not have no opposition. That was my point he faced a barrage of critiscism from all but die hard Man United fans. Ohurugu did not face much media criticism at all barring the brief spell the Sun disliked her (which as per most things with that paper they changed there opinion on remarkably quickly).
I also did not say she took drugs. I do not believe she did. As I don't believe Ferdinand did either, just for the record.
It's the double standards of how she so quickly became the darling of British sport so soon after, when others (and i'm not implying anyone in particular here, not just referring to athletics either, and not just British sportspersons either) have to work so much harder.
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But as you said she didn't take drugs. So why should she be tarred and feathered as much as someone who has been caught and admitted it. The end of the day, Dwain Chambers was stupid to do what he did but he was banned, served the band and now he's back. It's not particularly fair that he is being singled out all the time for competing again. In this case, it's the rules that need to be changed to prevent dopers from ever competing again, you can't blame him. Other dopers such as Myerscough appear to dip under the radar but he is singled out as a 'big name doper.
But what do you want her to do? What would make you happy? Have her quit? All she has done since coming back is work, apply herself and win. it sounds like you're critising her for being TOO successful. Perhaps if she had the good grace to be mediocre you might cut her some slack.
And the Rio argument still doesn't hold weight and I think you and I might disagree on some views there too.
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She didnt miss "the" test. She missed "three" tests, all within 18 months, all at times and places she had agreed to be available.
One might be accidental, two might be complacent, but three is at the least disrespectful to the sport, to the other competitors who haven't missed tests and to her profession as a whole; and in my view is suspicious.
If you want a more realistic comparison than Rio Ferdinand; try Michael Rasmussen. No failed tests, but missed 4 tests partly due to not being where his availability form said he was (2 each by different testing bodies so never actually missed 3 by the same testing body). Kicked off the Tour de France, while leading it by 3:10 with 4 stages to go and almost certainly on his way to victory, contract terminated and fired by his team and effectively removed from the sport as a whole.
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What about Tim Don? Or is he so white, male and middle class that he's beyond suspicion.
There's a reason the Whereabouts rules are so controversial and indeed subject to reform.
Poor old Christine O is still hardly the "darling" of British sport - however deserving she might be.
I long for the day she can achieve something and be celebrated for it without someone somewhere raising the whole missed tests scenario. Yes, she was stupid and unprofessional, but the girl has done her time!
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I like this blog
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