The former British 800m No.1 recently announced her retirement and tells Jessica Whittington how she has been enjoying recent results as a fan

From Elliot Giles' British record-breaking run to the continued Scottish success, there has been plenty for Marilyn Okoro to cheer even though her own competitive athletics career has come to an end.

"I’m gutted I can’t race them!" laughs the former British 800m No.1, as we discuss the latest spate of impressive performances by British athletes.

"I’m excited, but it reminds me of my era," adds the 2008 Olympic 4x400m bronze medallist, who ran her 800m best of 1:58.45 in 2008. "It was always exciting.

"I think because I have stepped away I can actually be a fan and truly explore. That’s the beauty of athletics, it’s just so dynamic and there’s so many different disciplines.

"The crop of athletes coming though, I mean Elliot Giles just excites me. Did you see that run the other day?" she asks, referring to the 26-year-old's British indoor 800m record of 1:43.63 in Toruń. "And then Jamie Webb [who finished just behind Giles]?!

"I’m really excited about the women’s 800m. I'm always championing Adelle Tracey, and Ellie Baker is my [Shaftesbury Barnet] club-mate, but then the Scottish athletes – Jemma Reekie, wow. She is so tenacious. Obviously Laura Muir. It’s one thing making it to the top but staying there – she is doing an amazing job at consistency and delivering time after time.

"Then there's Eilish McColgan, and Lynsey Sharp is making a comeback.

"Elsewhere Holly Bradshaw is doing an amazing job in the pole vault," she adds, "and I love seeing how she uses her voice. Jade Lally, a new mum, and she is competing out in Australia."

Announcing her retirement decision via an interview with AW last month, Okoro explained how she would be moving on to her next gold medal hunt - helping others, with a focus on athlete welfare.

"That’s how I knew I was okay," she adds on her retirement decision, "because I’m watching athletics, enjoying it and not trying to jump in the TV."

Lead photo by Mark Shearman

» Read more from an interview with Marilyn Okoro here, while her letter to the sport is here

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