Retaining Olympic title is not the stuff of fiction for Christine Ohuruogu

Christine Ohuruogu has shown signs of returning to form (Getty Images)

It remains to be seen whether Christine Ohuruogu can run her way into the history books as the first British woman to retain an Olympic track and field title. In the meantime, as she gets ready to defend her 400m crown on home ground, the Stratford woman has gone into print as a fiction writer.

Ohuruogu has had two children's books published: Camp Gold: Running Stars and Camp Gold: Going for Gold . They tell the tale of Maxine, a schoolgirl who suddenly discovers a talent for running and sets off on a path aiming for Olympic gold.

"It is based loosely on how I grew up," Ohuruogu said yesterday, during a cruise on the Thames to publicise her final pre-Olympic test, which will come on day two of the Aviva London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace on Saturday. "I love writing. It's important to get young people to read."

Ohuruogu has a degree in linguistics from University College London and first-class honours in quarter-miling. The Commonwealth 400m champion in 2006, world champion in 2007 and Olympic champion in 2008, the 27-year-old has endured three relatively lean years because of injury.

There have been encouraging signs of a return to form since the turn of the year, though. "I've always had confidence," Ohuruogu maintained. "I'm always confident in what I can do and in my abilities. Confidence has never been an issue for me."