Athletes relentless over festive period

GREAT Britain's athletics stars might afford themselves some turkey on Christmas Day but they won't be hanging around for the Queen's speech.

British double Olympic champion Daley Thompson famously cut short his festive celebrations to train on December 25, claiming it gave him the edge over his great rival Jurgen Hingsen.

And a host of potential London 2012 champions including Beijing 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu, will be following suit.

"As athletes we all know how important the next four years are and nobody wants to look back after 2012 and say they didn't give it their best shot," she said.

"Every day is important preparation.  My priority on Christmas Day is spending time with my family and enjoying the Christmas spirit but I'll still find time to go out for a run and a light training session."

Middle distance duo Marilyn Okoro and Lisa Dobriskey are also among those who will be swapping the sofa for the running track.

"There are medals to be won this winter and I want do well next year and continue to be competitive," said Okoro.

"I love my training and I will be training on Christmas day. I have to keep on improving to be where I want to be."

And Dobriskey, who came fourth in the 1500m in Beijing, insists she is no stranger to training all year round.

"I'll be training as usual all over the Christmas period," she said. "With Christmas landing on a Thursday, I'll be doing two runs as I would always do that day

"I've learnt from the Olympics, for example this morning I knew I had to catch an early train so wasn't going to get a run in, yet I woke at 4.30am and thought, the girls I was racing against would get up and run now, so I did. It's helped drive me on."

The domestic season beings with an international match in Glasgow on January 31 and continues with the European Trials taking place in Sheffield on February 14 and 15, and the Aviva Grand Prix in Birmingham on February 21.

GERARD MEAGHER