Marilyn Okoro
Encyclopedia
Marilyn Chinwenwa Okoro is a British athlete of Igbo
Nigerian ancestry. She received a bronze medal for the 800 metres
at both the 2007
and 2008 IAAF World Athletics Final
. She was on the bronze winning 4 × 400 m relay at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics
. She represented Great Britain for 800 metres Olympic finals
in 2008 and finished sixth (1:59.53 mins) in the semifinals.
On 26 June 2007 Okoro graduated from the University of Bath
with a B.A. degree in politics and French, then starting her first season as a fulltime athlete. She speaks four languages (English, French, Spanish and Igbo
) and sings in the jazz band The Felonius Monks.
Marilyn suffered an injury plagued 2009 outdoor season, though she battled through the pain barrier to finish a very credible 8th in the World Championship 800m final in Berlin. Okoro was also included in the squad for the 4x400m but was not selected in the lineup to run in the final. During the 2009 winter Okoro, along with training partner Montell Douglas
had major knee surgery to try to eradicate the problems that hit her '09 track season. There has been some criticism that the Lee Valley track produces more injuries than championship performances.
Marilyn has had a limited race schedule in 2010, but returned to a degree of form when taking bronze at the UK championships. Subsequently Okoro was selected to challenge for a medal in the 800m alongside Jenny Meadows
and Jemma Simpson
at the 2010 European Championships in Barcelona. She finished 4th in her semi final, therefore did not progress to the final. Okoro recovered from that disappointment to run the second leg in the 4x400m bronze medal winnng quartet alongside Nicola Sanders
, Lee McConnell
and Perri Shakes-Drayton
clocking 52.0 seconds for her leg. She also ran in the heat running 51.8 seconds. Vicki Barr
replaced Shakes-Drayton in the heats.
Okoro has been criticised heavily (most famously by UK Athletics coach Charles Van Commenee
) for her tactics and constant front running tactics.
Igbo people
Igbo people, also referred to as the Ibo, Ebo, Eboans or Heebo are an ethnic group living chiefly in southeastern Nigeria. They speak Igbo, which includes various Igboid languages and dialects; today, a majority of them speak English alongside Igbo as a result of British colonialism...
Nigerian ancestry. She received a bronze medal for the 800 metres
800 metres
The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...
at both the 2007
2007 IAAF World Athletics Final
The 5th IAAF World Athletics Final was held at the Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion in Stuttgart, Germany on September 22 and September 23, 2007.-Men:- Women :-External links:*...
and 2008 IAAF World Athletics Final
2008 IAAF World Athletics Final
The 6th IAAF World Athletics Final was held at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Stuttgart, Germany on September 13 and September 14, 2008.A number of road races also took place on the second day of competition. There were seven different starting points around the Stuttgart area and the distances varied...
. She was on the bronze winning 4 × 400 m relay at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics
2007 World Championships in Athletics
The 11th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Japan from 24 August to 2 September 2007...
. She represented Great Britain for 800 metres Olympic finals
Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's 800 metres
-Round 1:Qualification: First 3 in each heat and the next 6 fastest advance to the Semifinals.-Semifinals:-Final:-Splits:...
in 2008 and finished sixth (1:59.53 mins) in the semifinals.
On 26 June 2007 Okoro graduated from the University of Bath
University of Bath
The University of Bath is a campus university located in Bath, United Kingdom. It received its Royal Charter in 1966....
with a B.A. degree in politics and French, then starting her first season as a fulltime athlete. She speaks four languages (English, French, Spanish and Igbo
Igbo language
Igbo , or Igbo proper, is a native language of the Igbo people, an ethnic group primarily located in southeastern Nigeria. There are approximately 20 million speakers that are mostly in Nigeria and are primarily of Igbo descent. Igbo is a national language of Nigeria. It is written in the Latin...
) and sings in the jazz band The Felonius Monks.
Marilyn suffered an injury plagued 2009 outdoor season, though she battled through the pain barrier to finish a very credible 8th in the World Championship 800m final in Berlin. Okoro was also included in the squad for the 4x400m but was not selected in the lineup to run in the final. During the 2009 winter Okoro, along with training partner Montell Douglas
Montell Douglas
Montell Marcelle Douglas is a British sprinter and current British record holder for the 100 metres at 11.05.-Athletics career:...
had major knee surgery to try to eradicate the problems that hit her '09 track season. There has been some criticism that the Lee Valley track produces more injuries than championship performances.
Marilyn has had a limited race schedule in 2010, but returned to a degree of form when taking bronze at the UK championships. Subsequently Okoro was selected to challenge for a medal in the 800m alongside Jenny Meadows
Jenny Meadows
Jennifer Brenda "Jenny" Meadows is a British athlete. Her main event is the 800 m, although she previously competed over the 400 m.She is the third-fastest British woman over 800 m, behind Kelly Holmes and Kirsty Wade....
and Jemma Simpson
Jemma Simpson
Jemma Louise Simpson is a Cornish and British athlete who competes in the 800 metres and 1500 metres. She is the current British champion over 800m, winning both 2007, 2009 and 2010 British Championships...
at the 2010 European Championships in Barcelona. She finished 4th in her semi final, therefore did not progress to the final. Okoro recovered from that disappointment to run the second leg in the 4x400m bronze medal winnng quartet alongside Nicola Sanders
Nicola Sanders
Nicola Clare Sanders is a British sprinter and hurdler.-Early achievements:Nicola won a bronze medal in the 1999 European Athletics Junior Championships in Riga at 400 m hurdles. That same year she was 4th in the 400 m hurdles at the World Youth Championships...
, Lee McConnell
Lee McConnell
Lee McConnell is a Scottish athlete, who competes in the 400 metres. She attended Holyrood R.C. Secondary School in Glasgow before graduating from Loughborough University in 2000 with a degree in Sports Science. She became the Scottish 200 metres champion in 2002, and 2005. She also won the 400...
and Perri Shakes-Drayton
Perri Shakes-Drayton
Perri Shakes-Drayton is a British athlete who specialises in the 400 metres hurdles. She came to prominence at the English Schools Championships where she set a UK junior record time in the 400 m hurdles...
clocking 52.0 seconds for her leg. She also ran in the heat running 51.8 seconds. Vicki Barr
Vicki Barr (athlete)
Victoria "Vicki" Barr is a track and field athlete who competes in the 400 metres sprint. Her personal best for the event is 52.40 seconds. She is a frequent member of the British 4×400 m relay team and won a bronze medal at the European Athletics Championships in 2010...
replaced Shakes-Drayton in the heats.
Okoro has been criticised heavily (most famously by UK Athletics coach Charles Van Commenee
Charles van Commenee
Charles van Commenee, written in Dutch as Charles van Commenée, is an Dutch athletics coach who is currently the head coach of UK Athletics. He began his professional career as a technical director and national coach for the Netherlands. He moved to take up similar roles for the British athletics...
) for her tactics and constant front running tactics.
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