Radcliffe out of London marathon

TRR · 29-07-2012 2:50pm #1

Press conference just released. Foot injury.

Tristram · 29-07-2012 2:54pm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19035570

robinph · 29-07-2012 2:59pm

But she was never going to get a result these days.

There was some mention in an article earlier today of them being able to bring in a reserve now.

BobMac104 · 30-07-2012 9:19am

gutted for her

Brianderunner · 30-07-2012 9:24am

Bit of a disaster but not a shock. Was looking forward to cheering her on out on the course this Sunday.

A sad end to a legendary carer.

G-Money · 30-07-2012 9:31am

A shame alright, would have like to have seen her grab a medal of some description.

TRR · 30-07-2012 10:03am

G-Money wrote: »

A shame alright, would have like to have seen her grab a medal of some description.

Don't think that was ever realistically on the cards. Would have been nice for her to have a solid run and maybe get a top 6 finish. Would have been a great way to sign off.

The olympics is the pinacle of athletics but I don't view an athletes career a success/failure based on a race that comes around once every four years. As well as being gifted you also need a sizeable slice of good luck to win a medal. Radcliffe was untouchable in 2002&2003. Pity for her the Olympics didn't fall those years but doesn't change my view that she is one of the greatest distance runners (male or female) of all time.

Middle Distance · 30-07-2012 10:14am

Freya Murray been called up to replace Radcliffe!

EauRouge79 · 30-07-2012 10:51am

Feel so sorry for Radcliffe. She was a great athlete and a very likeable individual.
I think running London would have been great for her, even if she didnt compete for a medal at the end, it would have been an opportunity for the UK public to show here the appreciation she deserves.
Her world record will stand for a while yet i.m.o

Hopefully the BBC might put together a documentary on her career at some stage.

Good luck to Freya Murray, she ran a good time in London, well inside the standard. This will be only her 2nd marathon as far as I know.

run_Forrest_run · 30-07-2012 9:40pm

sad for Paula but in a way I think this is a marathon she could have done without anyway. I mean the pressure on her in London would have been immense and as others have already said, she was not necessarily guaranteed a medal at all.

shels4ever · 31-07-2012 7:38am

Wonder would she give up her world record for an olympic medal?

tang1 · 31-07-2012 8:32am

shels4ever wrote: »

Wonder would she give up her world record for an olympic medal?

In a heartbeat i'd say, world records are there to be taken away. Cant take an olympic medal away.

robinph · 31-07-2012 1:37pm

I seem to remember her saying somewhere before that she'd swap the record for a medal. She'd still have the next two fastest time anyway of course, but the majority of the fastest ever times won should be worth a trade in for a medal.

walshb · 31-07-2012 1:48pm

I think I would rather be remembered as the fastest of all time as opposed to owning a gold medal. Now, I know records can be broken, but I am speaking about a really really great record that the world knows and that the world thinks is off the charts. In other words I would rather die knowing that I was the fastest man in history over a certain distance as opposed to being one of many winners of an olympic gold. Although, wouldn't it be nice to set an amazing WR when winning the gold?

BobMac104 · 31-07-2012 3:16pm

jonathan edwards said recently that his record was more precious to him than the medal. interesting.
id probably go for the win myself

walshb · 31-07-2012 3:19pm

BobMac104 wrote: »

johnathan edwards said recently that his record was more precious to him than the medal. interesting.
id probably go for the win myself

I am with Jonathon. And, his record also set a first, as in the fiirst to clear 60 feet? Am I right? These types of records are IMO the best of the best. Gold medal is unreal, but to be known as the best ever at an event to me is unmatched.

dna_leri · 31-07-2012 3:32pm

There have only been 7 gold medal winners in the olympic women's marathon (mainly because it only started in 1984) so it's a super-elite group to join. In general I think it's an equally outstanding achievement to be either the olympic champion or the world record holder. In Paula's case she is approaching 10 years as the world record holder which marks here out as the greatest female marathoner of her generation but also as one of the greatest athletes never to have won any olympic medal.

Interestingly the world record holder has only once won the olympic gold medal - Joan Benoit in 1984 and her "record" is disputed since it was set in Boston. Takahashi came close, taking the world record after her gold medal in Sydney.

[off-topic but... for men I don't think it ever happened that the current world record holder won the olympic gold. The closest you get is Bikila's world record in Tokyo 1964 but he did not start that race as world record holder.]

shels4ever · 31-07-2012 3:43pm

dna_leri wrote: »

There have only been 7 gold medal winners in the olympic women's marathon (mainly because it only started in 1984) so it's a super-elite group to join. In general I think it's an equally outstanding achievement to be either the olympic champion or the world record holder. In Paula's case she is approaching 10 years as the world record holder which marks here out as the greatest female marathoner of her generation but also as one of the greatest athletes never to have won any olympic medal.

Interestingly the world record holder has only once won the olympic gold medal - Joan Benoit in 1984 and her "record" is disputed since it was set in Boston. Takahashi came close, taking the world record after her gold medal in Sydney.

[off-topic but... for men I don't think it ever happened that the current world record holder won the olympic gold. The closest you get is Bikila's world record in Tokyo 1964 but he did not start that race as world record holder.]

lopez went close was just outside the record in 83, winning the olympics in 84 then taking the record in 85 notbad going.

G-Money · 31-07-2012 7:18pm

I think I read a rumour or something that she might make the 2014 Commonwealth Games her final send-off.

ecoli · 01-08-2012 11:00am

Mod:Bit late to the party. Please avoid speculation. I have deleted this mornings conversation and actions taking accordingly

EauRouge79 · 01-08-2012 12:53pm

How easy will it be to beat Paula's world record over the coming year. Am I right in saying that her record cannot be broken if the race has male pacers running it like the big city marathons? i.e the same issue that the IAAF had when she had to have her records re-instated recently?

So the only oppotunities to break this records may come in World Champs and Olympic Games etc?

BobMac104 · 01-08-2012 1:00pm

Ya you're right there. Its makes a tough record even harder to break. I dont think the rule should be there tbh.

shels4ever · 01-08-2012 2:24pm

EauRouge79 wrote: »

How easy will it be to beat Paula's world record over the coming year. Am I right in saying that her record cannot be broken if the race has male pacers running it like the big city marathons? i.e the same issue that the IAAF had when she had to have her records re-instated recently?

So the only oppotunities to break this records may come in World Champs and Olympic Games etc?

If someone runs a mixed race now and broke the record what would happen, in that case a world best could be faster than the world record?

Radcliffe out of London marathon

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