Wirral's Andy Baddeley insists Olympic gold medallist Christine Ohuruogu was hard act to follow in Beijing

Aug 19 2008

Andy Baddeley

ANDREW BADDELEY insists he faced mission impossible after following in the footsteps of Christine Ohuruogu in his 1,500m final.

Just moments after Ohuruogu had bagged a sensational gold in the 400m, than Baddeley was on the same track – but there was to be no repeat of those heroics.

After sticking with the pack for the first three laps, Bahrain’s Rashid Ramzi stepped up the pace and Baddeley was left trailing as he come home ninth in a time of 3minutes 35.37seconds.

And the 26-year-old revealed it is not the first time he has had to play second fiddle to Ohurugogu.

"It is difficult to follow Christine winning the gold medal," he said. "She did it to me last year in Osaka at the World Championships where she won right before I was about to race.

"You prepare for the race hearing the national anthem and I am trying to focus on my race plans.

"It is just another distraction but that is what the Olympics trying to avoid those distractions and focus on your own race.

"I think I raced pretty well – I had a really good go at the bell, gave myself a good chance.

"I am not happy with ninth, but at least I pushed myself and didn’t end up in the minor places.

"I was trying to get in the lead group at the end but just didn’t quite have it, this was my third run in three days and it takes its toll but it was another good experience of a major final."

Baddeley has long suffered comparisons to middle-distances legends Seb Coe and Steve Ovett and is still searching for his first major championship win.

But having had a taste of the Olympics, Baddeley now wants more and he maintains has learnt a lot from the experience.

He added: "I have absolutely loved the Olympics apart from this moment now I want to be out there doing a lap of honour!

"I think I had a good shot tonight, four years is a long way away and I am going to try and establish myself a bit more in the next few years.

"It was a big occasion but I didn’t choke. I ran a pretty good time of 3.35 minutes which I can’t argue with but at the same time it is hard.

"Every time I deal with an experience like this I get better at it and better myself I want to do this again."

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