British Eyes are on Christine Ohuruogu to Deliver in the Women's 400m Final

Enter Ohuruogu and Baddeley, who in 50 minutes of pulsating action in the Bird's Nest Stadium today could change the whole mood of the British camp.

Ohuruogu is once again proving Britain's class act, winning her 400 metres semi-final on Sunday in 50.14sec, a time she has bettered only once before in winning the world title in Osaka last year.

What is more, she looked as if she had more to give. Quite how much more will be revealed in a final that has all the makings of a classic showdown with American Sanya Richards, the woman who was missing from Ohuruogu's final in Japan but who then reminded her who was boss by beating her three times afterwards.

Richards also looked comfortable as she cruised through her semi-final in a quicker time of 49.9 sec, easing up before the line.

The smart money has to be on Richards maintaining her unbeaten record against the Londoner, though Ohuruogu's whole season has been geared towards the Olympic final, with special emphasis on 200m races to match Richards' speed. Her endurance has always been a given.

The fact she has raced so lightly over 400m this year should not be a worry. She had not raced at all before she won her world title following her 12-month ban and spoke afterwards of the freshness in her legs.

Throw in her love of the big occasion – remember how she defeated world and Olympic champion Tonique Williams in the Commonwealth Games final in Melbourne in 2006 – and it could be a golden day.