Former student Victoria wins bronze and sets new record at Paris Olympics

Former Havering Sixth Form student Victoria Ohuruogu is still euphoric after winning a bronze medal and smashing a national record at the Paris Olympics 2024.

Victoria ran the first leg in the final of the women’s 4x400m relay for Team GB in the Stade de France on the final day of the athletics – getting the quartet off to a brilliant start!

Along with squad members Laviai Nielsen, Nicole Yeargin and Amber Anning, she was presented with the bronze medal after setting a new national record and personal best of 3:19.72 in the exciting race, won by the USA.

This success follows Victoria’s silver medal in the individual 400m in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last year.

A club member at Newham and Essex Beagles, Victoria (pictured below while at college) was already showing promise on the track when she studied A Levels at Havering Sixth Form. She became the British U19 400m champion as well as the English Schools 400m champion.

She studied English Language, History and Textiles and was mentored on the college’s Elite Athlete Support Programme which was set up to help high-achieving students juggle their sporting commitments with their A Level studies.

While at the sixth form, she said that her dream would be to emulate her sister Christine, now her coach, who was the Olympic 400m champion at the time and then went on to become Commonwealth and World champion too. She said: “Christine has inspired me because she has achieved what most athletes have tried to achieve all their lives and she is still extremely hard working and focused.”

After her Olympic relay success in Paris on Saturday, Victoria told the BBC: “Being first out, I tried to set it up as best I could for the girls. It’s been a great Olympic Games and we’re so thankful for our coaches and the prep camp that was made possible by the national lottery.

“It’s a brilliant feeling to stand on that podium. I have been training to be an Olympian since I was 16 or 17 so it has been many years in the making. We wanted to win, but we broke the British record so that’s ok.”

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