Ohuruogu dismisses claims

Having won gold at Osaka in 2007 and captured the Commonwealth title in Melbourne in 2006, Ohuruogu beat arch-rival Sanya Richards at Beijing's Olympic Games last August to claim the hat-trick of major titles over 400m.

Her battle with Richards is set to be one of the highlights at Berlin's Olympic stadium. The American has been running fast, clocking 49.23secs in Oslo last month while Ohuruogu's best time this season is 51.14.

Questions over Ohuruogu's form have been asked, but Britain's defending champion says she is confident of leaving her traditional slow build-up to the season in her wake once she steps on to Berlin's track.

"I have never gone into a championships super fast anyway, I find it very comical that people like to say I am not in form," she said.

"In 2007, I entered the championship running under 53 seconds and that was the week before we flew out to Japan.

"All I am going to say is that I am fit, happy and healthy and with those three under my belt I am good to go."

A powerful sprinter, Ohuruogu won gold in Beijing with a strong finish down the home straight to beat pre-race favourite Richards into bronze and Shericka Williams of Jamaica into silver, with a time of 49.62secs.

Her winning experiences give her confidence, but Ohuruogu refused to single out Richards as her main rival here.

"I don't like to talk about any one competitor individually, when we get to the final there will be seven other girls who want that medal just as much as I do and that is all I focus on," said the Brit.

After her Beijing, Osaka and Melbourne victories, Ohuruogu has the impressive record of having never lost a major championship final, but says that will count for nothing when the 400m heats begin on Saturday morning.

"It doesn't make it any easier that you have won a major championships, it doesn't make things any simpler," she said.

"It just gives me confidence getting through the earlier rounds and helps me keep it together under pressure.

"It doesn't matter what race you run, you get nervous, the anticipation of wanting to know what you will do and whether you will do what you want to do.

"The important thing is dealing with the nerves and using them constructively: getting stronger from them, not weaker."