"It’s not just about how talented you are"
Three-time winner of the London Marathon and 2005 world champion, Paula Radcliffe will be commentating for the BBC on middle-distance track events in Paris
Getty
- Caroline Frost
What will be the big stories in the athletics at these Games?
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From a British standpoint, we have to look out for Molly Caudery in the pole vault, and Dina Asher- Smith is in great form for the sprints. I hope Keely Hodgkinson comes through in the women’s 800m. In this year’s men’s 1500m, we have a great rivalry between GB’s Josh Kerr and Jakob Ingebrigtsen from Norway.
Does a great rivalry help to make athletes better?
When you have multiple athletes at the top of their game, it pushes them and all the athletes behind them. In the sprints, there are a lot of mind games, but with the longer distances, there’s time for the best person to come through, so there’s respect and friendship, too.
This year breaking makes its debut at the Games. How do you feel about new sports featuring at the Olympics?
The Games is the greatest platform in the world for introducing new sports. The only rider I’d add is that it should be the pinnacle of that sport. I don’t think something like golf belongs as it wouldn’t be the biggest thing golfers could win, and the Olympics should be.
Radcliffe in 2023. Getty
What sets Olympic athletes apart?
It’s not just about how talented you are or how hard you work. It’s both, plus how much you’re prepared to invest into it. It’s much easier if you love what you do, so you’ll stay with it during the inevitable setbacks you’ll get. And it’s about finding the event that suits you. When I worked my way up to the marathon, it felt like coming home.
You had to drop out of the marathon at Athens 2004. How did you recover mentally?
It wasn’t ideal, but Sally Gunnell gave me a hug and said, “When you have kids, you’ll forget all about this.” I thought no chance, but she was right. It helped me to toughen up and move on. It probably put too much pressure on Beijing, but it taught me a lot about resilience.
What’s your fitness regime now?
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I try to run every day and I lift weights three times a week. The priority is not to be tired but to help me clear my brain and plan my day.
Authors
Caroline Frost
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