Exclusive: Roger Black backs Ohuruogu for Olympic gold

By Richard Lewis 1/06/2008

Christine Ohuruogu (Getty Images)

Roger Black believes Britain's Christine Ohuruogu can spring an Olympic sensation in Beijing this summer.

Ohuruogu took gold at the World Championships in Osaka last year - but the event was missing its star performer in American Sanya Richards.

Illness ruled Richards out of the event, but after the Championships she beat Ohuruogu in Zurich, Berlin and Stuttgart. Richards's best time for the distance is 48.70secs against Ohuruogu's 49.61, which she set winning the world gold.

But Black, the Olympic 400m silver medallist behind Michael Johnson in Atlanta in 1996, insisted Ohuruogu could land the ultimate prize.

Black knew what it meant to time it right for big events and Ohuruogu, who is also the Commonwealth champion, has that same knack.

Richards has never won a major championship and Black said: "On paper, and all things being equal, Sanya Richards will be Olympic champion - but it does not go like that.

"The thing about Christine, which would worry me if I was one of her competitors, is that she is a championship performer and in the 400m that is a different ball game.

"The rounds of the 400m are tough and that is why Christine wins gold medals. It is completely different to a one-off race in Zurich.

"The key to being a championship performer is strength. You get better with the rounds and she would not be scared of them. Christine is the kind of athlete you can never take for granted.

"At Championships you can look great in the semifinal, but who cares? If Sanya holds her head together she will be champion, but in an Olympic final things happen." The 400m is building up to become one of the races of Beijing because Britain's Nicola Sanders, who was second in Osaka, should be in the mix.

Roger Black was speaking at the launch (left) of ASDA Sporting Chance, a five-year grass-roots investment.

In partnership with the charity Sports-Aid, ASDA Sporting Chance will give hundreds of thousands of youngsters access to free sports sessions, and grants for more than 700 promising athletes each year. More at www.asda-sportingchance.

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