Amber Anning is getting tips from Christine Ohuruogo as she tries to follow in her footsteps to Olympic glory.

The Brighton and Hove track sensation is trained by Lloyd Cowan, who guided Ohuruogo to gold in the 400 metres in Beijing in 2008 and twice in World Championships.

Anning (below), just 18, has a place in the GB team for next year's Tokyo Olympics in her sights - and she is determined to make it with Ohuruogo and Cowan spurring her on.

The Argus: "It was very helpful last year when I was injured," Anning said. "We were in regular contact and she was very supportive. She still is to this day. We message here and there.

"She messaged me after my performance at the Nationals. It was really nice to hear from her. She messaged me during the exams period (A levels) as well to see how I was doing and how training was going.

"She has been very on the ball. It's nice to have that from somebody that has achieved so much.

"She was such a phenomenal athlete. I am still kind of in shock at what she achieved. She didn't have the support, I don't think, that she deserved compared to some other athletes.

"I just think she was amazing. I want to achieve what she achieved and to know that I've got the coach and her both supporting me - that's like a deal, I'm very excited!

"It's nice to have an Olympic champion and world champion on my side and giving me tips. It makes me feel I am definitely doing stuff right.

"I'd love to be in the team for Tokyo 2020. That would be such an achievement for me and not just for the relay, to be there individually, that's the aim."

Anning made a stunning debut in the senior ranks for GB and Northern Ireland in the European Indoor Championships in Glasgow earlier this year.

She helped the relay team to silver after just missing out on the semi-finals in the individual event with a performance praised by Olympic legend Michael Johnson.

That put her in contention for a place in the relay squad for the World Championships in Doha in October, but she is concentrating her efforts instead on this month's European Under-20s Championships in Sweden, moving to America in August on a four-year scholarship at Louisiana State University and that Olympic dream.

Qualifying for the Worlds clashes with Anning's switch to the States and her outdoor season has been disrupted so far by a hamstring injury sustained running a 100 metres at Lea Valley.

That sidelined her for two months before clocking a personal best in Geneva and winning the Nationals at Bedford in another personal best of 52.54 secs, leaving her ranked No.2 for the Europeans in Boras from July 18 to 21.

The Argus: The event marks the end, for now, of the partnership with London-based Cowan for the BHASVIC student ahead of her switch to the States.

"This is it really," Anning said. "During my exam period and even the months before, Lloyd was away with a training group in America, so for the majority of the year I have actually been training by myself locally (at Withdean), so I haven't seen much of him until recently.

"After the disappointment of last season, being injured and unable to make the world junior team, this is the pinnacle. I am at my full fitness, the Nationals have gone well. It will be so lovely to be out there with him.

"Also, my training partner (Ethan Brown), he's second in Europe, he's going to be out there. For both of us to medal would be an amazing achievement for him as well."

Worthing hammer thrower Ben Hawkes is also flying the flag in Sweden for Sussex after winning the Nationals and making the qualifying mark.

Anning originally planned to double up in the 200 metres, but she is focusing on the event she does not like.

"Nobody likes the 400, I don't know anybody, even Christine," she said. "I always keep saying the event chose me, I definitely didn't choose the event."

If she gets chosen for Tokyo next summer, Ohuruogo will have played a part.