Britain hits Sweet 16

Beijing: Christine Ohuruogu surged to the women's Olympic 400 metres title on Tuesday and provided Britain with their first athletics gold medal of the Games.

The 24-year-old Londoner powered home over the last 50 metres to cross the line first in 49.62 seconds and add the Olympic title to the world title she won in Japan last year.

Britain currently sits in third place in the medal table with 16 golds behind China and USA.

"Everyone always dreams about winning but you never think there's a reality to something you dream about," Ohuruogu told the BBC.

"I crossed the line and was thinking, 'Oh my gosh, I've won...I'm just so proud of myself'."

Shericka Williams, of Jamaica, finished strongly to take the silver in 49.69 and American Sanya Richards faded badly after leading into the straight and had to settle for bronze in 49.93.

Doping test ban

Ohuruogu looked like missing out on Beijing when the British Olympic Association banned her life from competing at the Games after she missed three out-of-competition doping tests in 2006.

However, she lodged an appeal against the life ban because she had already served a 12-month suspension and was cleared to compete at the Olympics.

"My coach has always told me you have to go in expecting to win even if you have a bad day or you're not the best in the field," she said.

"He believes in me so much, enough to say, 'Chris go out and win each round because why would you want to go to the next one knowing that someone's beaten you?'"

Race favourite

Richards went into the race as favourite but failed in her bid to win her first major international title.

The 23-year-old American was struck down by Behcets syndrome, a rare disease that drained her energy and left her unable to speak after her mouth filled with ulcers.