Paula Radcliffe

1.1. Childhood and Influences

Paula Jane Radcliffe was born on 17 December 1973, in Davenham, near Northwich, Cheshire, England. Her family soon moved to nearby Barnton, where she attended Little Leigh Primary School. At the age of seven, Radcliffe began running, greatly influenced by her father, Peter Radcliffe, who was an enthusiastic amateur marathon runner. She initially joined Frodsham Athletic Club. Despite suffering from both asthma and anaemia, conditions she was diagnosed with (exercise-induced asthma at 14 after blacking out during training, and anemia in 1992), Radcliffe continued her passion for running. Her father's training jogs in the woods often saw Paula and her brother running alongside him for a mile or two.

When Radcliffe was 12, her family relocated to Oakley, Bedfordshire, and she became a member of the Bedford & County Athletics Club. Her joining the club coincided with a talented and dedicated coach, Alex Stanton, building the women's and girls' sections into one of the strongest in the country. Her father became the club's vice-chairman, and her mother, Pat Radcliffe, a recreational runner herself, managed the women's cross-country team. At age 10, Radcliffe, accompanied by her father, watched Ingrid Kristiansen run in the London Marathon, an experience that deeply inspired her to pursue an athletic career. Her first national-level race was the English Schools Cross Country Championships in 1986, where she placed 299th out of approximately 600 competitors at the age of 12. The following year, she finished fourth in the same race.

1.2. Education

Radcliffe attended Sharnbrook Upper School and Community College. She went on to pursue higher education at Loughborough University, where she studied French, German, and Economics, earning a first-class honours degree in Modern European Studies. Her academic background is notable, as she was a distinguished student alongside her burgeoning athletic career.

2.1. Early Track and Field Career

Radcliffe's junior career quickly showed her potential. In 1991, she placed 15th in the junior cross country race at the World Cross Country Championships in Antwerp. A significant early achievement came at the 1992 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Boston, where she won the Junior title, triumphing over future stars like Wang Junxia and Gete Wami, despite recovering from a severe asthma attack just weeks prior. Later that year, at the 1992 World Junior Championships in Seoul, she finished fourth in the 3,000 metres.

Her senior debut in 1993 at the Great North Cross Country in Durham saw her finish second to Olympic champion Derartu Tulu. At the 1993 World Championships in Athletics, she secured seventh place in the 3,000 metres. Radcliffe continued her cross country success by winning back-to-back World Cross Challenge events in Durham and Mallusk at the start of the 1994 season. However, she was forced to miss the 1994 IAAF World Cross Country Championships due to a foot injury, which was initially misdiagnosed, leading her to consider quitting the sport. In 1995, Radcliffe returned to form, out-kicking Tulu at the Fanny Blankers-Koen Games in Hengelo to run the third fastest time by a British woman in the 5,000 metres. She comfortably qualified for the final of the 5,000 metres at the 1995 World Championships in Athletics in Gothenburg, ultimately finishing fifth. The 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta saw Radcliffe place fifth in the 5,000 metres. She concluded 1996 with a third-place finish in a cross country race in Durham.

2.2. International Track and Cross Country Success

The late 1990s and early 2000s were a period of significant international success for Radcliffe in both track and cross country events, establishing her as a formidable force. In cross country, she won silver medals at the 1997 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Turin and the 1998 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Marrakech, often battling with Gete Wami and Derartu Tulu. She claimed her first senior title in the discipline by winning the European Long Course race at the 1998 European Cross Country Championships. She further cemented her cross country dominance by winning consecutive World Cross Country Championships titles in the Women's Long Race in Ostend, Belgium (2001) and Dublin, Ireland (2002), finishing in 27:49 and 26:46 respectively. She also secured a silver medal in the Short Cross Country race in 2001 and a bronze medal at the 1999 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Belfast. Her European Cross Country title was defended in 2003 in Edinburgh, making her the only woman to achieve this feat twice in the event's first decade.

On the track, Radcliffe continued to impress. At the 1997 World Championships in Athletics, she finished fourth in the 5,000 metres. As captain of the British team at the European Cup in 1998, she won the 5,000 metres and took second in the 1500 metres. In 1999, she set a new British record in the 5,000 metres at the London Grand Prix. She earned a silver medal at the 1999 World Championships in Athletics in Seville in the 10,000 metres, finishing behind Gete Wami. Her 10,000 metres time of 30:01.09 at the 2002 European Athletics Championships in Munich earned her a gold medal and was, at the time, the ninth best ever performance. She also secured a gold medal in the 5,000 metres at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, with a time of 14:31.42, just 3 seconds shy of the world record. Radcliffe also won the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships three times, in 2000, 2001, and 2003.

2.3. Olympic Appearances

Radcliffe represented Great Britain in four consecutive Olympic Games, but despite her world-class status, she famously never secured an Olympic medal.

At the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, she finished fifth in the 5,000 metres. Four years later, at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, she competed in the 10,000 metres. She led the race at a fast pace until the final lap, setting a new British record, but ultimately finished fourth, missing out on a medal by a narrow margin, which she found deeply disappointing.

The 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens were particularly challenging. As a strong favorite for the marathon gold, Radcliffe faced an unfortunate leg injury just two weeks before the event. The use of a high dose of anti-inflammatory drugs to manage the injury adversely affected her stomach, hindering food absorption. During the marathon, she withdrew from the race after approximately 22 mile ^{(36 km)}, visibly distressed and crying. Five days later, she attempted the 10,000 metres but, still suffering from the effects of the marathon, retired with eight laps remaining. She expressed profound disappointment, stating she had "never before not been able to finish" and felt "numb." Radcliffe, along with many other athletes, also cited the extremely high temperatures in Athens during the games as a significant factor. Her withdrawal, particularly from the marathon, generated extensive media coverage in the UK, with some newspapers criticizing her for "quitting."

Her final Olympic appearance was at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Despite battling further injuries, including a foot injury, a hip injury later revealed to be a stress fracture in her femur, and a broken left leg in May, she managed to gain sufficient fitness to compete. However, during the marathon, she experienced cramping that forced her to stop and stretch. She resumed the race and finished in 23rd place.

2.4. Marathon Transition and World Records

Radcliffe's strategic transition to marathon running marked a new era of dominance in her career, leading to multiple world records. Her debut at the 2002 London Marathon on 14 April 2002 was a resounding success. She achieved a world's best time for a women's only race, finishing in 2:18:55. This time was then the second quickest in women's marathon history, just behind Catherine Ndereba's world record. Radcliffe's aggressive racing style was evident, as she maintained an astonishing pace with a significant negative split (second half faster than the first).

Later that year, on 13 October 2002, Radcliffe shattered the existing world record at the Chicago Marathon, clocking an incredible 2:17:18. This performance broke the previous record by more than 1.5 minutes.

Her crowning achievement in the marathon came on 13 April 2003 at the London Marathon, where she set her final and most iconic women's marathon world record of 2:15:25. In this race, she ran a largely solo effort, utilizing male pacemakers early on, and pushed at an extraordinary pace, improving her own previous world record by nearly 2 minutes. This record stood for 16 years until it was surpassed by Brigid Kosgei in 2019.

In addition to her marathon records, Radcliffe also held the world record for the women's 10km road race, setting a time of 30 minutes and 21 seconds on 23 February 2003, at the World's Best 10K in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

2.5. Major Marathon Victories

Beyond her world record-setting performances, Radcliffe amassed an impressive collection of victories in major international marathons, showcasing her consistent excellence.

She won the London Marathon three times. After her record-breaking debut win in 2002 and her world record performance in 2003, she returned in 2005 to win for a third time with a time of 2:17:42. This was a world's best time for a women's only race, winning by over 5 minutes and marking her fourth time completing a marathon in under 2 hours 20 minutes, a record for women's marathoners. This particular race is also famously remembered for a moment when Radcliffe, suffering from stomach cramps and needing a toilet break, briefly stopped and defecated on the side of the road in front of crowds and television cameras. She later apologized, explaining the urgent nature of the situation. This incident was humorously voted the 'top running moment in history' in the UK in 2006.

Her victory at the 2002 Chicago Marathon was particularly notable as it was where she set her first marathon world record of 2:17:18.

Radcliffe also claimed three victories at the New York City Marathon. In 2004, she won in 2:23:10, a significant comeback after her disappointing performances at the Athens Olympics earlier that year. She repeated her success in 2007, winning in 2:23:09 after a break due to injuries and childbirth. Her third victory in New York came in 2008 with a time of 2:23:56, further solidifying her status as a dominant force in the event.

One of her most celebrated victories was her gold medal in the marathon at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics in Helsinki. She dominated the race from the start, despite temperatures below 59 °F ^{(15 °C)}, setting a championship record time of 2:20:57 and securing Britain's only gold medal at the event. She finished more than 1 min ahead of Catherine Ndereba of Kenya.

2.6. Later Career, Injuries, and Comebacks

The latter part of Radcliffe's career was characterized by a resilient struggle with various injuries and determined attempts at comebacks. Following the 2005 World Championships, she took a break in 2006 due to injuries and announced her first pregnancy. Her comeback was further delayed in 2007 as a result of a stress fracture in her lower back.

She made her comeback on 30 September 2007, at the BUPA Great North Run in the UK, her first race in nearly two years, finishing second behind American runner Kara Goucher. Her marathon return came quickly thereafter, winning the 2007 New York City Marathon on 4 November 2007 with a time of 2:23:09.

In 2008, Radcliffe faced more setbacks, withdrawing from the London Marathon due to a foot injury. Subsequently, a hip problem was diagnosed as a stress fracture in her femur, and in May, she broke her left leg. Despite these significant challenges, she prepared for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. While she managed to compete in the marathon, she experienced cramping during the race, finishing 23rd. However, she quickly rebounded by winning the 2008 New York City Marathon on 2 November, securing her third victory there with a time of 2:23:56.

Injuries continued to plague her, forcing her to withdraw from the 2009 London Marathon due to a fractured toe. She underwent bunion removal surgery in March, believed to be the underlying cause of her recurrent injuries. After a nearly 10-month layoff, she won the New York City Half Marathon in 1:09:45. Despite this, she withdrew from the 2009 World Championships due to feeling unfit and missed the World Half Marathon Championships due to tonsillitis. She finished fourth at the 2009 New York City Marathon with knee problems, failing to achieve a third consecutive win there.

Following a 19-month layoff that included the birth of her second child, Radcliffe returned to action at the Bupa London 6.2 mile ^{(10 km)} race in 2011, finishing third. She described her performance as "a bit of a disaster," and revealed a tear in one of the discs of her back. She set the 2011 Berlin Marathon as her target for an Olympic qualifying time, finishing third in 2:23:46, which was the fourth fastest time by a European woman that year. However, she expressed dissatisfaction with her time and place. In 2012, she used the Vienna Half Marathon to gauge her fitness but was comfortably beaten by Haile Gebrselassie. Ultimately, Radcliffe was forced to withdraw from the 2012 Summer Olympics in London due to a persistent foot injury. In March 2013, she admitted that a competitive return might not be realistic due to the prolonged injury, expressing a desire to finish her career with one last race. In September 2014, she returned to competition in a 6.2 mile ^{(10 km)} road race in Worcester City, UK, her first race in two years since her foot surgery.

2.7. Retirement

Paula Radcliffe officially announced her decision to conclude her competitive marathon career on 14 January 2015. She chose the 2015 London Marathon, held on 26 April 2015, as her final race. She participated in the general field, completing the marathon in 2:36:55 and finishing 19th. This race marked the emotional end of her illustrious athletic career.

3.1. Championship Titles and Major Race Wins

Radcliffe's versatility and endurance were evident in her extensive list of victories across different events:

• World Cross Country Championships**:
  • Junior Race: Gold in 1992 (Boston)
  • Long Race: Gold in 2001 (Ostend), Gold in 2002 (Dublin)
  • Short Race: Silver in 2001 (Ostend)
  • Long Race: Silver in 1997 (Turin), Silver in 1998 (Marrakech)
  • Long Race: Bronze in 1999 (Belfast)
• IAAF World Half Marathon Championships**:
  • Individual Gold: 2000 (Veracruz), 2001 (Bristol), 2003 (Vilamoura)
• European Championships in Athletics**:
  • 10,000 m: Gold in 2002 (Munich)
• European Cross Country Championships**:
  • Individual Gold: 1998 (Ferrara), 2003 (Edinburgh)
  • Team Gold: 2003 (Edinburgh)
• European Cup (athletics)**:
  • 5000 m: Gold in 1998 (St. Petersburg), 1999 (Paris), 2004 (Bydgoszcz)
  • 1500 m: Silver in 1998 (St. Petersburg)
  • 5000 m: Silver in 2001 (Bremen)
  • 3000 m: Bronze in 1997 (Munich)
• Commonwealth Games**:
  • 5000 m: Gold in 2002 (Manchester)
• World Championships in Athletics**:
  • 10,000 m: Silver in 1999 (Seville)
  • Marathon: Gold in 2005 (Helsinki)

  Her major marathon victories include:

  • London Marathon**: 2002, 2003, 2005
  • Chicago Marathon**: 2002
  • New York City Marathon**: 2004, 2007, 2008

3.2. World Records

Paula Radcliffe set multiple world records during her career, notably in the marathon and 10km road race.

• Marathon**:
  • 2:17:18, set on 13 October 2002, at the Chicago Marathon.
  • 2:15:25, set on 13 April 2003, at the London Marathon. This record was particularly significant, standing for 16 years until it was broken by Brigid Kosgei in 2019.
• 10km Road Race**:
  • 30:21, set on 23 February 2003, at the World's Best 10K in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

  Radcliffe's splits for her 2:17:18 world record at the 2002 Chicago Marathon were:
  

  	5km	10km	15km	20km	Half	25km	30km	35km	40km	Finish
  Time	16:27	32:47	49:05	1:05:26	1:09:01	1:21:34	1:37:40	1:53:45	2:10:08	2:17:18
  Split	16:27	16:20	16:18	16:21		16:08	16:06	16:05	16:23	7:10

  
  
  Radcliffe's splits for her 2:15:25 world record at the 2003 London Marathon were:
  

  	5km	10km	15km	20km	Half	25km	30km	35km	40km	Finish
  Time	15:48	32:01	48:15	1:04:28	1:08:02	1:20:34	1:36:36	1:52:34	2:08:29	2:15:25
  Split	15:48	16:13	16:14	16:13		16:06	16:02	15:58	15:55	6:56

  
  
  Her personal bests include:
  

  Surface	Event	Time	Date	Place	Notes
  Track	400 m	58.9	1992
  	800 m	2:05.22	1995
  	1,000 m	2:47.17	1993
  	1500 m	4:05.37	1 July 2001	Glasgow, Scotland
  	1 Mile	4:24.94	14 August 1996	Zürich, Switzerland
  	2000 m	5:37.01+	29 August 1993	Sheffield, England
  	3000 m	8:22.20	19 July 2002	Monaco	British record
  	2 Miles	9:17.4	23 May 1999	Loughborough, England
  	4000 m	11:35.21+
  	5000 m	14:29.11	20 June 2004	Bydgoszcz, Poland	British record
  	10,000 m	30:01.09	6 August 2002	Munich, Germany	Ninth best ever
  Road	5 km	14:57+	2 September 2001	London, England
  	4 Miles	19:51+
  	5 Miles	24:47+
  	8 km	24:05+			World best (non-IAAF distance)
  	10 km	30:21	23 February 2003	San Juan, Puerto Rico	World record
  	15 km	46:41+	7 October 2001	Bristol, England	British record (unofficial/downhill)
  	10 Miles	50:01+	13 October 2002	Chicago, USA	World best (unratifiable/downhill)
  	20 km	1:02.21+	21 September 2003	Newcastle-South Shields, England	World best (unratifiable/downhill)
  	Half marathon	1:05:40	21 September 2003	Newcastle-South Shields, England	World best (unratifiable/downhill)
  	25 km	1:20.36+	13 April 2003	London, England
  	30 km	1:36:36+	13 April 2003	London, England	World best (unratifiable)
  	20 Miles	1:43:33+	13 April 2003	London, England	World best (unratifiable)
  	Marathon	2:15:25	13 April 2003	London, England	World record

3.3. Awards and Honours

Radcliffe received widespread recognition for her achievements and contributions to sport:

• Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)**: Appointed in the 2002 Birthday Honours for services to athletics.
• BBC Sports Personality of the Year**: Awarded in 2002, making her the first woman in over a decade to receive this accolade.
• Laureus World Comeback of the Year**: Won in early 2008 for her performances in 2007, particularly her marathon return.
• IAAF World Athlete of the Year**: Named in 2002.
• AIMS World Athlete of the Year**: Recognized three times.
• World Sportswoman of the Year**: Nominated on several occasions.
• England Athletics Hall of Fame**: Inducted in 2010.
• Loughborough University Hall of Fame**: Inducted in 2015.
• Honorary Degrees**:
  • Honorary Doctor of Technology (Hon DTech) by Loughborough University in 2002.
  • Honorary Doctorate from De Montfort University on 25 October 2001.
• Freedom of the Borough**: Conferred by the Borough of Charnwood on 28 June 2004.
• BBC London Sports Awards 'Sporting Moment of the Year'**: Awarded in 2003.
• Londoner of the Year award**: Received at the 2016 London Press Club awards.
• Charity Work**: Joined Jonathan Edwards on an Olympic Special Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, raising 64.00 K GBP for charity, with half going to the British Olympic Association and a quarter to Asthma UK.