3 March 2008

LONDON - Paula Radcliffe, the golden girl of British athletics, insists she will be under less pressure to win the marathon at the Beijing Olympics in August than she was in Athens four years ago when she experienced ‘the worst that can happen in the Olympics’.

In Greece, as she is set to be in China, Radcliffe was the hot favourite for the gold medal but instead dropped out of the race in tears. Five days later, she also failed to finish in the 10,000 metres final.

But after receiving the 2008 Laureus World Comeback of the Year award Radcliffe, who has never won a medal at any of the three Olympics she has competed in, said in a statement: ‘I think for any athlete the Olympics is the pinnacle - I think it’s that little bit more special.

‘Winning a gold at the Olympics is that much better than winning a gold at the World Championships, which I have,’ added the 34-year-old, currently training at altitude in New Mexico.

‘I think for me also, having been to three Olympics, where I feel I’ve never been able to achieve my maximum potential, there is an added fire and momentum and, yes, added pressure to perform in Beijing.

‘I also feel that having been through what I have been through in previous Olympics, I’ve already experienced the worst that can happen and I’ve come through and survived, so for me the pressure is less. ‘