Tiffany Porter has explained her decision to switch allegiance from America to Great Britain.
Hurdler eligible for Great Britain move
Tiffany Porter has attempted to set the record straight and shatter the "myths" surrounding her decision to switch allegiance from America to Britain.
Sprint hurdler Porter has been labelled one of the 'Plastic Brits' who have recently become eligible to compete for Britain, joining the likes of Anguillan-born long-jumper Shara Proctor and American-born 400 metres runner Shana Cox.
But 23-year-old Porter insists she is proud of her British heritage - her mother Lillian was born in London - and that money and an easy place on teams for the World Championships and Olympics were not behind the move.
"I'm very excited and very fired up to compete for GB right now," said Porter, who broke Angie Thorp's 15-year-old British record in the 100m hurdles earlier this year - something which Thorp claims left her "absolutely distraught".
"I look at it as a year to let the media and the public know who I am and to dispel any myths there are about me."
Asked what those myths were, Michigan-born Porter added: "The fact that people think I switched allegiance because it would be easier to make the team, or I'm doing it for money.
"Anybody who knows me knows that those are as far from the truth as possible. I've always had dual citizenship since birth. I've always been proud of my heritage. My mom has always told me about my British-American-Nigerian background. It's who I am.
"When I was younger I felt cool for having a British and an American passport. I didn't think it was going to be such a big fuss, my transition over here. I just hope the British media as well as the British public can accept me as a loyal team-mate, athlete and citizen.
"The financial aspect was not a motivational feature at all. I am sponsored by adidas so financially I'm okay. I didn't do it for the money, so if anybody thinks that I just hope that they understand that it's not the reason why - not even by a long shot."
Staying positive
Porter made her British debut in the European Indoor Championships in Paris earlier this year, winning a silver medal in the 60m hurdles, and recently lowered her British 100m record to 12.60 seconds.
That places her fifth on the world rankings in 2011 and Porter is determined not to allow any negative publicity detract from her performance at next month's World Championships in Daegu, or the London Olympics in 2012.
Speaking ahead of this weekend's Aviva London Grand Prix - and from a venue which overlooks the Olympic stadium - Porter added: "I don't really pay much attention to what goes on in the media. I'm focused on competing.
"I'm a hurdler, I have tunnel vision. Athletics is a very large part of my life. That's what I focus on. I don't let the negativity get me down."
As for being labelled a 'Plastic Brit', she said: "I don't really understand why anybody would ever say that. Everybody's entitled to their own opinion so I can't fault anybody for forming their opinions. I just want to make sure that opinions are based off truth and that everybody knows that I am in fact a dual citizen.
"I'm very proud. I'm not going to apologise for who I am. I'm going to embrace my heritage. I always have and I will continue to do so in the future.
"The British athletes have been one of the most motivational aspects during this time. They've been very cordial, very accommodating, very welcoming, and I'm very excited to be part of the team.
"I could have run for America, Britain or Nigeria and I chose Britain because I really appreciate the support that we have here, and I really believe that as an athlete I can flourish under that kind of a system.
"I just thought it was the best fit for me when I made the decision. It feels right. Everything has been conducive to my success this year."
