It's a slow forum day so...

[Anonymous]

What are people's opinions on Paula Radcliffe's performance in the Olympic Marathon yesterday?

Was she right to stop or was it an appalling display of gutlessness?

Over to you peeps

[Doorman]

How can you say such a thing after what those Greeks did to our athlete. Nobody else completed the course either. Did they?

[Squonk]

Originally posted by BlueBall@Aug 23 2004, 10:29 AM
an appalling display of gutlessness?

Career Achievements
1994 1st IAAF World Cross Challenge Mallusk

1st Cross-Country Championship Blackburn

1st British Cross-Country Championship Northumberland

1995 1st Paulen Memorial 5000m Hengelo

2nd KP Games 5000m Crystal Palace

5th IAAF World Championships 5000m Gothenburg

1996 1st IAAF Cross Challenge Durham

1st IAAF Cross Challenge Mallusk

5th Olympic 5000m Atlanta

1st Fifth Avenue Mile New York

1997 2nd IAAF World Cross Country Championships Turin

1st Crescent City Classic 10k New Orleans

4th IAAF World Championship 5000m Athens

3rd IAAF Grand Prix Final Fukuoka

1st Fifth Avenue Mile New York

1998 2nd IAAF World Cross Country Championships Marrakesh

2nd European track Challenge Lisbon

1st Compaq 5 miles (world best) Balmoral

1ST European Cross-Country Championships Ferara

1999 3rd IAAF World Cross-Country Championships Belfast

1st European Challenge 10,000m Bilbao

1st Compaq 5 miles (World best) Balmoral

2nd IAAF World Championships 10,000m Seville

3rd BUPA Great North Run South Shields
 
2000 4th 10,000m Olympic Games Sydney

2001 4th 10,000m World championship

2002 Winner London Marathon

1st 5000m Commonwealth games

1st 10,000m European championship

1st Chicago Marathon world record time 2:17:18

I think after all that ,there must be other reasons for her dropping out the race

[TeaLeaf]

I think she simply overheated and got dehydrated, I don't think there is any question of her being 'gutless'.   It was one *hot* day over there.  Air temp in shade was 35 degrees and the tarmac was 49 degrees in the shade.  Once they got out onto the black tarmac the temps soared.  Did anyone else catch the piccies of her before the start where she was wearing an 'ice jacket' and having iced water poured over the back of her head?

She has my sympathy, an Olympic gold is a difficult target to achieve and nobody can argue she didn't put the work in to get there.  With luck she'll still be around in 4 years time and will get another chance.

TL.

[sheepy]

i agree with TL sentiments

amazing athalete, was so disapointed with her having to retire from the race would have loved to see her get a medal - good on the other brit girl tho she finished all be iit in 22nd place!

[Anonymous]

I was impressed with her comment on BBC

"I can't use the conditions as an excuse because they were the same for everyone," she said.

However, I am stunned that she actually stopped. The American athlete behind her didn't stop and got she overtook the Ethiopian to get a Bronze Medal. Her fellow GB athletes didn't stop even though they had absolutely no chance of a medal. Within seconds of going into a non-medal position Paula just stopped running. I don't get it, I believe it gives a bad message and I wish that she had kept going. She probably wishes the same TBH.

[sheepy]

i think that every one does - it was on tv erlier saying that she hadnt been able to sleep the night before and that her phisio said it was the most nervous that he had ever seen her so i think that the occasion got to her and the pressure

[DarkAngel]

Your also forgeting the length of the course and how steep it is in places, bloody hard work and my hat goes off to her she tried her best. Its not like its hot over here in comparison to Greece when its always hot.

[Maus]

(Meanwhile, go go gadget Kelly Holmes)

[ChimpBoy]

It's those continental miles - they're slighty longer than over here.  She had in fact won the race several minutes back  It's on olympian conspiracy after we started winning more medals than we have a right to