Hannah England says she is fully focused on athletics, despite the increased media and commercial interest in her.
The 25-year-old Oxford City athlete will be a marked woman when she begins her 1,500m Olym-pics campaign with the first round on Monday, August 6.
Since winning a surprise silver medal at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, England’s profile has grown massively and she has become something of a poster girl for UK athletics.
But although she enjoys the interest, England has not let it affect her London 2012 preparations.
“I have got a commercial agent that organises it all for me,” said England.
“I have told him my main training days when I can’t do anything.
“If he gets approached for something on those days, it is just a flat ‘no’.
“Basically, he is having to turn down most things.
“I usually get one email with a massive load of turn-downs just in case there is anything on the list that I want to do.”
England, who first featured in the Oxford Mail as a 12-year-old, added: “I haven’t done a lot of media stuff, but I have enjoyed it.
“I made a decision after Daegu that I would make sure my focus stayed on training.
“I have got another six or seven years of really serious running to concentrate on.”
England will marry UK 3,000m steeplechase champion Luke Gunn early next year and is also learning to drive when she finds time.
But there is no doubting her focus on the Olympics, whose opening cenemony is tonight.
She said: “I would never forgive myself if I missed one session to do something commercial.
“I am a lot more motivated by running well than doing other stuff.
“It is flattering getting invited to events, but I would rather go and run around a muddy field somewhere.”
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