Thursday, 22 May 2008 17:36 UK

Injury 'bombshell' hits Radcliffe

BBC Sports news

 

Marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe is refusing to rule out competing at the 2008 Olympics despite suffering a stress fracture to her leg.

 

The 34-year-old was diagnosed with a low-grade injury to her left femur following an MRI scan on Wednesday.

 

Despite describing the news as a "bombshell", she insisted she is "90-100% likely" to run in Beijing.

"It's going to go down to the wire and I will need a bit of luck, but I'm not giving up," Radcliffe said.

"I won't run through pain and I won't go if I can't be competitive. It's not ideal but I'm trying to stay positive."

 

Radcliffe revealed she had been told by specialists it would now be "impossible" for her to complete enough training to be fully fit for Beijing.

 

She said: "Everything has been with Beijing in mind, it's been a huge focal point and it's hugely important to me.

Radcliffe admitted she was "angry" the problem had not been correctly diagnosed earlier despite two MRI scans, one in Germany and one in England.

 

"There's a huge amount of frustration - I could have been on crutches earlier rather than walking around on it."

She hopes to be able to resume running in two weeks' time and before then will be swimming and cross-training at her base in France.

"I'm doing everything I can to accelerate the bone healing and that is generally a two-week period," she added.

 

Radcliffe had turned her focus to Beijing after she dramatically withdrew from the marathon at the 2004 Athens Olympics at the 23-mile mark because of exhaustion.

She went on to drop out of the 10,000m final with eight laps to go and later revealed she had been suffering from a quad injury and a stomach upset.

 

This season her training schedule has already been disrupted by a toe injury on her right foot which first came to light when she finished runner-up in last September's Great North Run.

She went on to win the New York Marathon for a second time in November 2007, despite the niggling injury.

It flared up again while Radcliffe was altitude training in the USA in February, and she was forced to miss the chance to earn a fourth Flora London Marathon title last month.

 

Earlier this week she was named in the Great Britain marathon team for Beijing along with Mara Yamauchi, Liz Yelling and Dan Robinson.

 

Are any of you fans of Paula Radcliffe?

She was injured for the London marathon too, I wonder if was the same problem developing behind the scenes until it was discovered. I'm a fan and would love to see her there but is it fair to deny Team GB's fit and healthy reserve a place at the Olympics on the chance she might get there?

Having read her biography I have respect for her single minded determination.

You can only be that good at running when you are obssessed.

 

I hope she recovers - but agree if not fit should not get place just because of who she is.

 

But if on form - she cant be beaten.

 

Anyone who saw her sprint the last mile of the New York marathon can not be in awe of her mental strength and physical ability.

 

 

Anyone who saw her sprint the last mile of the New York marathon can not be in awe of her mental strength and physical ability.

 

I agree. I remember watching that, and the commentators (Steve Cram & Brendon Foster) & most of the knowledgeable watching public knew there was no way she was going to win from that position remembering all of her 10,000 metres runs, so when she out sprinted her African rival, the commentators & those at home were very impressed.

 

The thing is with the Olympic Marathon event is that a reserve can be selected/called up at 24 hours notice (unlike the other individual Track & Field events), so she can leave her decision up to the that time if she has to.