Paula Radcliffe

A four-time Olympian and one of the greatest ever distance runners, the only thing missing from Paula Radcliffe’s record haul was an Olympic medal. Radcliffe started out running distances from 3,000 to 10,000 metres but eventually became best known for her marathon exploits. She ran the 5K at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, finishing fifth, and the 10K in 2000 and 2004, placing fourth at Sydney. Through 2022 she remains the British record holder for women at 3,000, 5,000, and 10,000 metres.

Radcliffe was a six-time World Champion, winning the marathon in 2005, the half-marathon in 2000, 2001, and 2003, and the International Cross-Country (short) in 2001-02. She also garnered four silver medals at World Championship events, in the 2001 10K, the short race at the International Cross-Country in 1997-98 and 2001, and the long race in 1999.

Radcliffe was at her best in major city marathons, winning seven titles. She won London in 2002-03 and 2005, New York in 2004 and 2007-08, and Chicago in 2002. It was against the clock that her record made her supreme. At the 2002 Chicago Marathon, Radcliffe ran 2-17:18 for a world record, bettering the mark of 2-18:47 set by Catherine Ndereba at the 2001 Chicago race. In 2003 at London, Radcliffe took the marathon mark to another level, running 2-15:25, a mark which stunned long-time track statisticians as it was such an outlier. That would remain the women’s marathon world record for over 16 years until Brigid Kosgei ran 2-14:04 at the 2019 Chicago race.

Radcliffe struggled with injuries at both her Olympic marathons, not finishing in 2004 and placing 23rd in 2008. Injuries continued to haunt her later in her career, as she effectively stopped competing after not making the 2012 Olympic team, although she only retired officially after running the 2015 London Marathon.

Personal Bests: 5000 – 14:29.11 (2004); 10000 – 30:01.09 (2002); Mar – 2-15:25 (2003).