The race action pictures above show the athletes in the home straight during the final of the womens'
400m at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka. Nicola (far right) produced a terrific performance to
win the silver medal in a new PB time of 49.65 secs, with compatriot Christine Ohuruogu (2nd left)
making it a memorable occasion for British athletics by winning gold. Jamaica's Novlene Williams (far left),
who had led for much of the race, took the bronze in 49.66 secs, just 1 hundredth of a second behind Sanders.
The other athlete in shot is Natalya Antyukh who finished in 6th place in a time of 50.33 secs. The individual
photos above also show Nicola during the final.
Sanders could not resist a dig at critics who had given British athletes no chance of winning gold medals in Osaka.
"We proved them wrong" smiled the European indoor
gold medallist.
"You can't ask for more than that. It's fantastic. But of course I would have like it to have been
the other way round!" Nicola would then team up with Ohuruogu, Marilyn Okoro and Lee McConnell to win a
bronze medal for Britain in the 4x400m relay. Sanders produced a storming last lap to end Russia's medal hopes,
crossing the line in a new British record time of 3: 20.04.
This eclipsed the previous record set way back in 1991 at the Tokyo World Championships, the last time
the Worlds were staged in Japan. Nicola was equally as pleased to have her second medal of the week.
"After the heats we knew that the national record was in reach" she said.
"But to do it then in the final was just fantastic. It is amazing - I got two medals. This feels really great."
Women's 4x400m. Relay final. 2007 World Athletics Championships.
1. United States (D. Trotter; A. Felix; M. Wineberg; S. Richards) 3: 18.55
2. Jamaica (S. Williams; S. Lloyd; D. Prendagast; N. Williams) 3: 19.73
3. GB & NI (C. Ohuruogu; M. Okoro; L. McConnell;
N. Sanders)
3: 20.04
| |
|
Women's 400m Final.
2007 World Athletics Champs.
|
| 1. Christine OHURUOGU |
|
GBR |
|
49.61 |
| 2. Nicola SANDERS |
|
GBR |
|
49.65 |
| 3. Novlene WILLIAMS |
|
JAM |
|
49.66 |
| 4. Ana GUEVARA |
|
MEX |
|
50.16 |
| 5. DeeDee TROTTER |
|
USA |
|
50.17 |
| 6. Natalya ANTYUKH |
|
RUS |
|
50.33 |
| 7. Ilona USOVICH |
|
BLR |
|
50.54 |
| 8. Mary WINEBURG |
|
USA |
|
50.96 |
| |
.
In 2016 after two teams were disqualified for drugs (Russia and Belarus) GB was awarded
the 2008 Olympic Games bronze 4x400 metres medal. The GB quartet was Christine Ohuruogu,
Kelly Sotherton, Marilyn Okoro and Nicola Sanders.