Britain's Olympic Champion Christine Ohuruogu on Nigerian Background, Experiences and London 2012
Christine Ohuruogu’s meteoric rise to her athletic summit cannot be separated from an extraordinary tale of human ability to exceed expectation. Not a few people would readily acquiesce in the notion that her conquest and supreme reign in the track and field world at national, regional and global levels have left many mouths ajar than an instance of a foregone conclusion. Her story gives an apt description of a star designed to shine by an unflinching desire to have her darts on the bull’s-eye, though entwined with string of fortunes and foibles. As regaling as the tales of her fortuitous foray into athletics can be, it is conspicuously evident that she possesses uncommon resilience and doggedness which has hitherto seen her through many trials and travails to the point of prominence, stardom and fortune. In this interview with CHECKOUT, Ohuruogu turns out to be effortlessly engaging as she tells explicit story of her stint in netball, her conversion to a global athlete and her expectations at the next Olympic Games when she will compete at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, which is just a mile from where she grew up and still currently lives.
Below is an excerpt of Ohuruogu's interview with Checkout
This brings us to the question often asked by many people on why most kids do not look beyond entertainment and sports for role models. As there is a clear exception in your own case, so what answer have you got for people out there that are in search of positive role models outside sports and entertainment?
I believe that young people in general should never have to go far to look for role models. When I was a kid growing up, I never had sports people or celebrities as my role models. I had my family, my brothers and, my friends as role models. I think we often seem to forget that we are also role models for the youngsters; fathers, mothers, teachers, uncles, aunties etc. I think one can be a role model to these young people if you provide them with something positive that they relate to, they will learn from you. Celebrity lifestyles appeal to young people, there’s no doubt about that, but it is also critical that we find other things that appeal more to them and inspire them. I am not saying celebrities are bad role models; some of them are very good role models. What I am saying is that anyone can be a role model, it doesn’t have to be a specific type of person. Some think we have to go far and wide to look for role model but I believe that they can be found right here in our communities as, teachers, family members, parents etc. I think those are very important role models.
Christine Ohuruogu’s meteoric rise to her athletic summit cannot be separated from an extraordinary tale of human ability to exceed expectation. Not a few people would readily acquiesce in the notion that her conquest and supreme reign in the track and field world at national, regional and global levels have left many mouths ajar than an instance of a foregone conclusion. Her story gives an apt description of a star designed to shine by an unflinching desire to have her darts on the bull’s-eye, though entwined with string of fortunes and foibles. As regaling as the tales of her fortuitous foray into athletics can be, it is conspicuously evident that she possesses uncommon resilience and doggedness which has hitherto seen her through many trials and travails to the point of prominence, stardom and fortune. In this interview with CHECKOUT, Ohuruogu turns out to be effortlessly engaging as she tells explicit story of her stint in netball, her conversion to a global athlete and her expectations at the next Olympic Games when she will compete at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, which is just a mile from where she grew up and still currently lives. 
