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Olympics update – 22/08/2008

22/08/2008
Stuart Weir of BMS partner Verité Sport, brings the latest news on Christian athletes competing at the 2008 Olympic Games. Stuart is reporting from Beijing.

With two Christians in the team - Marilyn Okoro (pictured right) and individual 400 metres gold medallist Christine Ohuruogu – Great Britain today eased into Saturday's final of the women's 4x400 metres relay. Afterwards Christine said, "It's OK. We've qualified. We have to work extra hard on Saturday – everyone has to do their work".

Christine told the press on Wednesday that the secret of her success was trusting God and believing in herself.

Marilyn reached the semi-final of the 800 metres and told Stuart Weir that her Christian faith is integral to her running.

"My mum is a Christian so I grew up in a Christian home but has not been plain sailing. It is only in the last two years that I have been able to combine my faith and athletics, and my faith fuels my sport. I run from God and try to bring glory to him. Sometimes it is tough but my faith is a massive bonus.

"I really believe God is in my running. Sometimes my head tells me you have no right to be here, you have not trained properly and then I go out and produce the performance he wants me to.

"The Olympics is the ultimate, the competition every athlete wants to be part of. It is what you work for - to be there, to make final, and hopefully bring home a medal. That is only every four years makes it more special. That Beijing is my first Olympics makes it even more special."

Meanwhile, on the track on Thursday, Allyson Felix of the USA (pictured left), ran a season's best of 21.93 seconds in the 200 metres final – but it was not enough to beat Jamaican Veronica Campbell-Brown who ran a personal best of 21.74 seconds and grabbed the gold.

Allyson won a second successive Olympics silver and said afterwards, "I am happy to be here. I can't complain but I am definitely disappointed. I just have to pick myself up and go forward."

Allyson came here chasing three gold medals – a feat she achieved in the 2007 World Championships – but with USA dropping the baton in the 4x100 metres relay, Allyson has only the 4x400 left.

20/08/2008

Committed Christian Christine Ohuruogu won gold for Great Britain in a thrilling Olympic 400 metres final on Tuesday.

Christine came from behind to win in a time of 49.62. She was behind at halfway and, speaking afterwards with Stuart Weir of BMS partner Verité Sport, admitted to being a little anxious.

“People ask me if I knew Sanya [Richards, of the USA] had gone off very hard – no, she was in lane seven and I could not see her.

“All I had to work off was the Russian girl who had gone off very hard. After about 200 metres, I was really annoyed with myself that I had not stuck with her and that I’d left myself so much work to do.”

Credit: Richard Giles

She added, “The thing about how I run is that if you are going to beat me you have to fight me very hard.

My coach always says, ‘the race is won in the last 50 metres’. If you can keep your cool and keep your composure and keep relaxed in the last 50, that is when people start dying – and he knows I don’t die in last 50!"

Elsewhere on the track, Jamaican Usain Bolt repeated his world record-breaking 100 metres gold medal on Wednesday, winning the 200 metres and beating Michael Johnson's 12-year record in the process.

Bolt has an interesting connection with BMS – he was educated at the William Knibb Memorial High School in the country, named after the famous missionary!

18/08/2008
As the Olympics moves into its second week here is an update on some of the Olympians mentioned in our ‘More than gold’ resource. Stuart Weir, of Verité Sport, reports from Beijing.

"In a brilliant weekend for Great Britain, Debbie Flood and her quadruple sculls rowing team had an epic battle with China. Despite leading for most of the race, the British were pipped at the post and Debbie had to be content with a second consecutive silver medal.

"Dieudonné Disi of Rwanda finished 19th in the 10,000 metres final.

"Catherine Ndereba of Kenya – a silver medallist last time out – repeated her second place in the women’s marathon. Asked if she was disappointed with silver, Ndereba said, 'I am never disappointed. Disappointed is not in my vocabulary because to have a second silver medal, I consider that fantastic'.

"Jamaican Asafa Powell looked comfortable in the semi-final but was blown away by his countryman Usain Bolt’s world record time of 9.69. Powell finished fifth."

Debbie Flood shows her silver medal to a local man

15/08/2008
It’s a big weekend for Christian competitors at the 2008 Olympic Games, reports Stuart Weir of BMS partner Verité Sport, who is in Beijing for the event.

He says, “On Sunday afternoon, Great Britain’s Debbie Flood is taking part in the final of the quadruple sculls rowing event with team-mates Katherine Grainger, Frances Houghton and Annie Vernon”.

After silver in Athens four years ago, the four are attempting to get Britain’s first-ever Olympic gold in women’s rowing. Expect the Chinese to push them hard.

It’s going to be a busy time on the track too. Stuart says, “On Sunday, Dieudonné Disi of Rwanda goes in the 10,000 metres race, with Catherine Ndereba of Kenya – a silver medallist last time out – competing in the women’s marathon”.

Stuart Weir talks with GB rower Debbie Flood after she qualified for the quad sculls final

One of the most eagerly anticipated events in Beijing is the men’s 100 metres final, which takes place on Saturday. Jamaican Asafa Powell goes up against countryman Usain Bolt and American Tyson Gay for gold medal glory.

On the flip side of success is of course failure and Stuart ends by saying: “Sadly, this week, Great Britain’s Kirsty Balfour lost in the semi-final of the 100 metres breaststroke and the heat of the 200 metres’ breaststroke”.

Please pray for these competitors as they return home – that God would heal the pain of their 'failure', and strengthen them.

Click the athletes’ names to find out more about them. We’ll update you on how things went next week.

The Olympic torch at the Bird's Nest stadium, Beijing

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