Paula Radcliffe is completely brilliant

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To produce a baby when your body is the the state of weird perfection involved in marathon running; to come back from that and run successfully at the highest level; to start and finish the marathon in China despite having a fractured hip.

Fantastic determination.

I thinks she's great too.

I'm applauding Liz Yelling as well. Did you see her shoulder? And the fall too?

Does Mara Yamauchi train/live in the UK? I thought she spent most of her time in Japan according to the commentators this morning.

"does she ever win anything?"

OK she doesn't have an Olympic gold but let's not forget her amazing track successes, please, as well as some incredible marathon wins.

I will never forget her utterly brilliant run at the Manchester Commonwealth games to storm the 5k.

I will not have a word spoken against her.

She chose to run because if she hadn't completed the course, she would almost certainly have had no chance of competing for the 2012 marathon. In the same year as having a baby and 3 months after a stress fracture... Her choice and a brave one.

She is the marathon world record holder, and has won virtually every marathon she's competed in - wiki article lists all of her achievements

Think it has been a bit unfair on Mara Yamauchi (who I had never even heard of until today) but Paula Radcliffe does have a lot of expectation around her because she is the world record holder.

I take all the points on this thread. Actually, I think that they are all brilliant, Mara included of course. But I will continue to admire Paula Radcliffe's amazing determination.

ah Paula

as charismatic and pleasant as Andy Murray

was a blast from the past to hear her blubbing on the radio this morning

There is a definite double standard concerning Andy Murray's and Paula Radcliffe's insufficient preparation.

Andy was slated for it, where Paula gets a huge sympathy vote.

not chez Enid she doesn't

Yawn.

Who in the world goes the Olympics with such an injury?

I mean, DUH!

Why not give an alternate a chance and take the time out to properly heal it?

And what's so great about having a baby?

yy

having a baby doesnt automatically bar you from being fit

in fact, weirdly, I know two RL women who run marathons and have two or more children each

I was a bit cross with the organisers for switching the swimming finals to suit the American audience. Not because I objected to them getting the cash from NBC, but in the knowledge that the American audiences were still getting a rubbish deal, albeit at a slightly more sociable hour.

I watched the whole thing.
It is dreadful how Mara Yamauchi did so well, yet was barely mentioned.
And Liz was knocked over and injured, but again, hardly a mention.
It was all about Paula Radcliffe.
She should have stopped running - god knows what damage she has done by continuing the marathon.

I appreciate the points about media bias and so on, but I do feel that some women seem to enjoy slagging off women in the spotlight who are having self imposed difficulties.
It reminds me of the Amy Winehouse thread and so I'll say it again - sisterhood anyone?

Apparently female atheletes are at their fittest after having a child, not quite sure why, but it's something I've heard quite a lot.

It's not Radcliffe's fault if the press is obsessed with her. Although I do agree that if she wasn't fit enough then she shouldn't have run.

So what she's a woman? Why does that mean every other woman on the planet has to 'support' her?

Amy Winehouse is a waste of space, IMO.

Got booed last night at yet another gig she turned up to majorly late and fucked up out of her mind.

I wouldn't go and see one of her gigs if the tickets were free - you'd be there waiting for her all night.

breastfeeding hormones make you more bendy or something - I remember will smith's wife saying she could do good kick boxing stunts in a film because of that.

I was at that very gig last night - 20 minutes late is hardly major is it? The sound quality was poor and I was about 200000 people back so I'm not sure I'm a good judge of the performance.
I like to think that women are supportive of each other because we're all different but my mum taught me that we support each other in a patriarchal society.

that's not what Radio 1 is reporting.

.

no, i don't buy that have-to-support them just because they're women.

to me, that's as sexist as an Old Boys Network.

paula's forever gurning and crying.

she's tiresome.

Paula Radcliffe, she gives me the willies

I don't think she should have run when injured. If she is serious about still be able to run in 2012 and in other marathons in between why risk it all for the sake of running a marathon you are in no state to win or even complete.

I am not sure the media is entirely to blame for the focus by the way. According to the commentry last night she had already organised a press conference for later in the day. Why?! Win or lose she could have had her say at the finishing line and gone home like everybody else.

She strikes me as being a little bit needy and seeks out the media as much as they seek out her.

I don't know what that means but my mother used to say it, I just know its not a compliment