Adeoye seeking help to continue track progress (From Haringey Independent)

Team GB sprinter Margaret Adeoye discusses 'amazing' London 2012 Olympics experience

2:50pm Tuesday 25th September 2012 in Sport By Adam Newson

Olympian Margaret Adeoye is aiming to reach the World Championship finals in Russia next year and is hopeful of securing sponsorship to help her achieve her goal.

Adeoye reached the 200m semi-finals at London 2012 and set a personal best time of 22.94 in front of 80,000 supporters in the Olympic Stadium.

The Enfield and Haringey Athletics Club competitor believes she can continue to improve her time and is planning a move to Uxbridge in order to be closer to her training facilities.

Adeoye explained: “I need to do it now to progress. Last year I spent three hours a day travelling from home and back again.

“I feel that is detrimental to what I’m trying to achieve. The sooner I can get my body to recover the sooner I can then do a double session.

“When I was on a training camp with the Great Britain athletes many of them had relocated to be closer to their training facilities. They said I should do it because it makes such a difference.

“So when you get advice from athletes at the top level it is obviously something to listen to. So I believe I need to do it to progress and to get better.”

She added: “I have now decided to go full time with athletics so I am looking for sponsorship and funding in order to get me to the World Championships next year.

“They will be held in Russia and that is the first step for me. I am hoping to get into the final there and then progressing further each year.”

Adeoye is coached by one of Great Britain’s greatest sprinters – former Olympic and World champion Linford Christie.

The 27-year-old states having Christie as a coach is “inspirational” and his influence has helped her achieve “bigger things”. She said: “He has so much knowledge and experience that I think it has helped me so much. Last year I sat down and thought that I have an Olympic champion as a coach, let me use this to my advantage.

“So I have spoken to him nearly every day since last October. I chatted to him a lot over the winter asking him questions how to prepare mentally and physically.

“It is almost like being woken up from a spell and realising I’ve got an Olympic champion as a coach.

“I also have Ron Roddan as a mentor and he coached Linford. So I’ve got two people at hand so why shouldn’t I be able to achieve bigger things.

“So I have used them to my advantage, made the GB team and now I want to build on that.”

Her performance at London 2012 certainly indicates that she is improving under the guidence of Christie and Roddan.

Like many British athletes who were in action at the Games, she stated the home support was “amazing”.

“The crowd reaction when my name was announced was surreal,” she said. “I loved it; it made me feel that all the hard work you do in the winter and all the training is worth it.

“There may have been eight people on the track but because it was a home crowd it felt like they were all supporting me. It was really amazing.

“As well as me wanting to progress to the next level, the fact they were there supporting me and cheering me on gave me that confidence boost to push further on.”

If you are interested in sponsoring Adeoye, contact Christie’s sports management agency Nuff Respect on 0208 8914145.