The best of Paula Radcliffe is still yet to come, according to her coach Alex Stanton.

Radcliffe capped a stunning year by being named BBC Sports Personality of the Year on Sunday.

The award was reward for Radcliffe winning gold at the Commonwealth Games and European Championships, as well as the London and Chicago marathons.

And Stanton, who has coached the 28 year old for the past 16 years, believes she can improve on her phenomenal year.

"If it's the right course, company and weather, I think Paula can still go faster," he told BBC Sport Online.

"Everything has to be dead right but if you get it all together you are going to be making great times."

Radcliffe has now has her sights firmly on gold at the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004.

She trains hard and gives up so much Alex Stanton, Radcliffe's coach

Stanton paid tribute to Radcliffe's dedication and her desire to become the world's finest distance runner.

"She deserves everything she's got. She trains hard and gives up so much. She will shut herself away at altitude and just train," he said.

"Nothing else matters to her. It's not a glamorous lifestyle, all you are doing is getting up, training and going to bed at night."