Christine's interest in athletics sparked during a school sports day when she ran an 800m race. A teacher's suggestion led her to join an athletics club. She specialised in the 400m as no other club member wanted to compete at that distance. Her impressive times ensured regular selection.

Training and Coaching

Christine trains under coach Christine Bowmaker at the Newham & Essex Beagles club. Her training regime includes weights to develop power and strength and condition her body to avoid injury. She focuses on working from the core outwards.

International Debut and Achievements

Christine made her international debut for Great Britain in 2003 in Tampere, Finland. Her most memorable achievement is winning gold at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. She was named Great Britain's Athlete of the Year in 2007 and 2008.

Awards and Honours

Christine was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2009. She was named Sportswoman of the Year at the Glamour Magazine Women of the Year awards in 2014 and also won the Sunday Times and Sky Sports Sportswoman of the Year award in 2013.

Challenges and Injuries

Christine faced several injuries throughout her career. Her 2010 season was cut short by a torn thigh muscle, and she underwent surgery on both Achilles tendons in 2007. In early 2015, she suffered from a hip injury.

Personal Life and Interests

Christine resides in London and holds a degree in Linguistics from University College London. She has a habit of slapping her thighs and hamstrings before races, though she is unsure if it helps. Her sporting philosophy is, "If you fight you might lose, if you don't fight you have already lost."

Influences and Family

The most influential people in Christine's career are her support team and her brother Obi. Her hero is Australian athlete Cathy Freeman. Christine's younger sister Victoria is also a 400m runner who has represented Great Britain internationally.

Other Sports

Before focusing on athletics, Christine was a junior netball international, playing for England at U17 and U19 levels.

Sanction and Comeback

In 2006, Christine received a one-year ban from UK Sport after missing three out-of-competition drug tests. Although her appeal was rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), she overturned a lifetime ban from all Olympic Games imposed by the British Olympic Association (BOA). This allowed her to compete at the 2008 Olympic Games, where she won gold.

Future Plans

Christine aims to compete at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Despite challenges, her dedication to athletics remains strong as she continues to inspire many with her achievements.