Bissah: It feels like a dream

Ghana's golden girl at the Youth Olympics, Martha Bissah, says her gold medal win is a “sweet dream” and a beautiful beginning she wants to build on.

Last Saturday, the 17-year-old girl stunned the Games when she raced to a personal best and a new junior national record of 2:04.90 to snatch victory with an impressive finish.

With most eyes on Ethiopia’s Hawi Alemu Negeri, the African champion, Bissah was not tipped as favourite, but with 200m to end the race, she left the spectators admiring her finish as she stepped up her pace and finished ahead of the pack. Hawi came second in 2:06.01min (a personal best) while Germany’s Mareen Kalis took third place in 2:06.03.

Not believing her feat, Bissah, momentarily looked up to the heaven and then knelt down as if to give thanks and she later told the Xinhua News Agency: "I knew I had won, but when the announcement blurred from the speakers, it was unbelieveable. It felt all like a sweet dream and I'm really thrilled.

"Right now, I'm just happy and can't describe what it feels like being an Olympic champion, but I feel good and happy that I've made my country proud.

"Where do I go from here? The journey has just began for me. Most people think that the middle distance and long distance are the preserve of the East and North Africans, I would want to build on what I have achieved here," the shy-looking youngster said.