When Paula Radcliffe announced last week that she may never rush along again, I was heartbroken.
That may sound like an overstate ment, exclusively it sincerely is sad news for the numerous pull outning fans who make water support Radcliffe through her injury problems, hoping for just unmatchable more race.
Because Paula Radcliffe is, preferably simply, the dress hat female marathon runner of all time.
Her achievements pronounce for themselves: seven major(ip) marathon victories, including three at the capital of the United Kingdom marathon.
World championship titles not only in the marathon, but too the half marathon and cross arena. European 10,000m and cross country titles. 5000m gold at the Commonwealth Games. The list goes on.
Her marathon solid ground take down of 2:15:25, set in 2003 in London, has stood for ten years.
It was just ten minutes slower than the men’s world record at the time, and was such an dumbfounding athletic performance that no one has since come indoors three minutes of her time.
The only thing missing for Radcliffe is an majestic gold medal, though it was not for want of trying.
She represented bully Britain at four successive Olympics among 1996 and 2008, but her best result was 4th place in the 10,000m in Sydney in 2000.
That Radcliffe was never able to win an Olympic marathon is a lot allowed to detract from her impressive career. When she pulled out of the Olympic marathon in Athens in 2004 at the 22 mile mark, many labelled her a quitter – although I think I potbelly safely say that none of those criticising her were marathon runners themselves.
But the image of Radcliffe collapsed in despair at the side of the road was a figure of national disappointment, not least because her medal chances were so great.
The chromatic days of British running, when Steve Jones held the marathon world record, and the rivalry between Steve Ovett and Seb Coe dominated middle distance, were over.
But in the years lead-in up to Athens, Paula was still flying the flag; in 2002, she won the London and Chicago marathons, the world cross country title, and European 10,000m gold, and in 2003, she set her marathon world record.
It was not to be, but Radcliffe’s loss nevertheless felt like a great injustice, and Radcliffe was never able to even the score.
Despite more major marathon victories in the run up to the 2008 Olympics, a emphasise fracture in her leg just three months in the lead Beijing put paid to her training.
Once again, she was left in bust as she struggled across the elaboration line in twenty-third place.
Yet Radcliffe, and her supporters, would be forced to relive the pain of Athens one more time. Osteoarthritis forced her to withdraw from London 2012, last ending her chances of winning that elusive Olympic medal.
Now, her injuries seem to have drawn a line under her career, too.
None of this is to say that Radcliffe’s career should be defined by her Olympic heartbreak. solely marathon runners have to suffer injuries now and then, and the timing of hers were agonisingly unlucky.
But when she was on form, she swept all before her.
Her marathon world record revolutionised women’s running by proving that we can run more than faster than previously assumed.
For years, she has been an inspirational figure for the millions of club and unskilled runners in Britain, transcending the barrier between men’s and women’s sport.
And she was the reason I started running ten years ago.
I am now training for my fifth marathon, and when I cross the finish line, I’ll be pretending (as always) that I’m Paula. level(p) though I literally can’t run half as fast as she can.
She may never have won an Olympic medal, but how’s that for a legacy?
Materials taken from Womens Views on News
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