Christine Ohuruogu wins gold in photo-finish
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E-mail Xinhua, August 13, 2013
Former world, Olympic and Commonwealth champion Christine Ohurougu rallied to claim women's 400m title with a new British national record at the 2013 IAAF worlds on Monday.
The 29-year-old Ohuruogu, the 2007 world champion and 2008 Olympic champion, ran down reigning world titlist Amantle Montsho of Botswana right at the finishing line thanks to her powerful charge in the home straight. She trimmed the British national record to 49.41 seconds and only won the race with a margin of thousands of a second.
"I just thank God for everything. It is like a dream, it is too much. I cannot believe it. After the race, I did not want to get too excited until I knew for sure that I won, until my name got out first. It is really weird. I am just very happy. This is really strange," said Ohurougu, skipper of team Britain at the Moscow worlds.
" I did not see Christine coming from behind. I think if I knew that, I would pull my chest forward and would have made it. She know how to run and how to plan the race, she is very strong in the finish. Of course, I wanted to defend my title from Daegu but I am proud to be silver too," said the 30-year-old Montsho, who also clocked 49.41 to settle for the silver.
"I am both happy and sad at the same time. At home, they were expecting me to win the gold here, so it is a bit disappointing, but I am still a medallist," added Montsho who recorded six wins out of eight this season before competing in Moscow.
The 2010 European champion Antonina Krivoshapka of Russia won the bronze in 49.78.
"I didn't realize I got a medal until I saw the result on the screen. When you run on the eighth lane, you can't really estimate the positions on the last straight, it wasn't clear even on the screen. I actually don't remember the race at all, maybe only the last meters, when I felt someone running from behind," said the Russian. "I was really motivated for these Championships. It was my chance to perform well in front of my home crowd, who cheered for me. I was extremely excited when I saw the result and when I saw my coach screaming happily."
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