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Monday, 12 August, 2002, 15:29 GMT 16:29 UK
Radcliffe facing Athens dilemma
Radcliffe (centre) celebrates gold with O'Sullivan (left) and Biktasheva
Radcliffe beat a top-class field to take gold in Munich
Paula Radcliffe admits she is facing a dilemma over which race to enter in the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

The British runner ran the second fastest time ever achieved by a woman to take gold in the 10,000m final at the European Athletics Championships in Munich.

That equalled her achievement in this year's London Marathon, which she won - again with the second fastest time in history by a woman.

She also won gold in the Commonwealth Games 5,000m in Manchester.


I would love to win an Olympic marathon, and I would love an Olympic medal on the track
Paula Radcliffe

Radcliffe told BBC Radio Five Live on Monday that she was unsure about which distance she would attempt in Greece.

"When you think that it's the marathon in Athens, which is the home of the marathon, then maybe things change a little bit," she said.

"So it's a difficult decision. I would love to win an Olympic marathon, and I would love an Olympic medal on the track, so it's going to be a hard decision."

Radcliffe admitted that her work over the longer distances - she also won the World Half Marathon Championships in Bristol in October - had improved her performances at all distances.

"Doing the long endurance stuff seems to have given me the strength to sustain the speed," she said.

"I think my body is just a lot stronger (thanks to the marathon).

"By increasing the long runs, I found that does not take anything away from the speed but increases the strength on the track."

Radcliffe's next big test will be the Chicago marathon in October.

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 ON THIS STORY
Paula Radcliffe
'It's a big weight off my shoulders"
See also:

08 Aug 02 | European Athletics
07 Aug 02 | European Athletics
06 Aug 02 | European Athletics
15 Apr 02 | BBC Pundits
14 Apr 02 | London Marathon 2002
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