Christine Ohuruogu's Perspective

Following a highly successful athletics career, Christine is embarking on a new challenge - a career in law. Read what she has to say on transitioning from sport to the corporate world.

Life After Sport: tell us about your approach to transition planning?

CO: My background in netball showed me that it is possible to combine elite sport and career (for example there were full time engineers in the England netball team). Post university I sought to ensure that I used my spare time to developing outside of athletics, for example through charity work rather than thinking specifically about roles I wanted to do.

Life After Sport: you are now doing an accelerated Law Degree. How are you finding it?

CO: Going back to university has been challenging – you have to learn how to learn again! That said I am enjoying the course

Life After Sport: What advice would you give athletes just starting out in elite sport?

CO: Sport can be both revealing and concealing – there is a lot of bravado in elite sport. It is important to understand who you are as a person is rather than you the athlete. What makes you tick, what don’t you like, what are your personal weaknesses and how do you plug the gaps? This will help you make the right lifestyle decisions. I personally wanted to make sure that people knew me as Christine rather than Christine the runner.

Life After Sport: What advice would you give athletes just starting out in elite sport?

If you have got to the top with a sole focus on athletics, it can be challenging to broaden your horizon. It is important that you keep the future in mind. You can only do so much with medals.