Where does she rank among Britain's all-time greats?

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Radcliffe shattered the field with her blistering pace, finishing in 30mins 01.09secs to break Ingrid Kristiansen's 16-year-old European record of 30:13.74.

In torrential rain, she took her second gold medal in nine days, having already claimed victory in the 5000m at the Commonwealth Games.

She follows in the footsteps of Liz McColgan, who took 10,000m gold at the 1991 World Championships to add to her Commonwealth gold from 1986 and her Olympic silver from 1988.

Just how good was Radcliffe's display? And can she claim to be Britain's greatest ever distance runner?

In my opinion, if Paula Radcliffe does not win the BBC Sports Personality of the year award in December, it would be a travesty of justice!!
Anthony, England

Paula is certainly the best UK female distance runner ever and arguably one of the greatest UK athletes ever. She is up there with Cram, Ovett and Coe without a doubt. To have bounced back after so much disappointment and so many setbacks shows the mental strength that Paula has and the will to prove her critics over the years wrong. Yesterday's 10,000m was the greatest performance of all time and should be recognised as such.
Claire McCracken, Scotland

Well done Paula. She so deserves all her success. It was great to see her win last night and in Manchester. Liz McColgan destroyed the field when she won Commonwealth and World golds, but not one of the BBC team gave her a mention despite talking about other greats. Bad form BBC.
Lorraine, Scotland

Our Sonia ran a great race but Paula was simply awesome. I'm convinced nobody in the world could have come close to her last night. It was the greatest women's 10,000 ever run and was in my mind the genuine world record in the distance.
S�amas, Ireland

Well done Paula! When you watch races like that it makes you proud to be British.
Kate, Isle of Man

As a distance runner myself, I hope Paula's recent achievements on the track, road and country inspire more runners in the UK to train harder, run more miles, and put British distance running firmly back on the world map.
Gary Slater, UK

We in the States anxiously await Paula's run in Chicago against Kenya's world record holder, Catherine Ndereba (and our own Deena Drossin, for that matter, who gave Paula her best test at the World Cross Country).

But based on Paula's stunning 2002 season from 5,000 to marathon, is any woman capable of withstanding her fury?
Toni Reavis, USA

Congrats from across the pond! You're a true inspiration in our country and your own. We're in awe of your running in last night's 10,000.
Rob Halpin, USA

Watching Paula's superb performance sent a tingle down my spine. She is an inspiration to everyone. She is the Michael Johnson of distance running, a true professional. I just hope I can beat her time in next year's London Marathon!
Tim Dickinson, UK

Britain's greatest ever? Not quite, but if she carries on like this there will be no arguments soon. The run last night was fantastic, and hopefully there will be many more to come - well done Paula.
Big Al, UK

I totally agree with Steve Cram's comment. Paula Radcliffe's run was the best ever seen on a track and is deserving of a world record. The current "world record" should be wiped from the books. She must win Sports Personality of the year after this outstanding performance.
Neil Blanks, UK

I think that the officials should have intervened and indicated to the runners that were being lapped so they could move over - especially when they saw how close Paula was to the historic 30 minute barrier. I am in even more admiration that Paula has just brushed this off as one of those things.
Tim Wright, UK

Not that I was in any doubt of her huge ability and undoubted greatness prior to last night, I decided to test myself in the gym this morning - 30 minutes for 10k equates to 20km/h on a treadmill. MY WORD! Try that for five minutes, let alone 30! That girl is something else!
Bobby, England

She is definitely one of the greatest. Her technique is far superior to any woman I've seen in recent years. I think she has much more to achieve and I'm confident that she will go down as one of Britain's finest.
Natalie Jessup, Brighton

Fantastic - one of the greatest runs you will ever see. Amazing pace, judgement and strength in far from ideal conditions. Hats off Paula - a gold medal has never been more deserved.
Mark, UK

It's wonderful to see Paula doing so well; she is without doubt one of the best UK athletes of recent times, and possibly the best female distance runner this country has ever seen.

With more marathons and track events on the horizon it's only a matter of time before her haul of world records starts to come in. Well Done Paula, you are an inspiration
Matt Bannister, England

Paula Radcliffe is a phenomenal athlete and it is great to see her getting the rewards she so richly deserves. There can't be many people who have the physical and mental strength that she shows in training and racing. I hope she inspires some of our younger athletes that they can do it with a lot of hard work (and talent) Well done!
Jane, UK

What a star! In awful conditions Paula proved what a champion she is. It would have been nice to see her break the world record, but breaking a long-standing European one is almost as good. Doesn't it make you proud to be British?
Diane Warrilow, England

I'm with Patricia Murray, UK (below). Why haven't more people commented on the time Paula lost lapping so many groups of runners so many times? She couldn't have failed to break the 30 minute mark if she had had an open track.
Julia Boughner, Torontonian in London

I had the privilege of watching Paula Radcliffe last night. I hope many of our other athletes taking part in the European championship are as inspired and focussed to win as Paula was last night. This lady is one of the world's greatest ever athletes, and let us all sing her praises.
Alan Hancock, England

I'm delighted to see Paula Radcliffe do so well - it was a truly awesome performance. I'm also delighted for Sonia O'Sullivan on her Irish record - not bad for someone who gave birth to her second child at the start of the year!
Ian Gavigan, Ireland

I'm going to stick my neck out and say that Britain will win about 18 medals, of which 10 will be Gold. After an extremely successful Commonwealth Games, so many of our Athletes will be on a high and I hope the performances will be carried through for an extra week.

Paula Radcliffe has already shown the way with her magnificent performance in the 10,000 metres. There's no one in the world at this very moment who can get anywhere near her.
Noel Cook, England

Paula Radcliffe, if I had a hat I would take it off to you. Unbelievable, incredible - I feel privileged to have seen you run tonight. As Crammy said, if she doesn't win the BBC Sports Personality this year, I will eat my hat.
Mick Taylor, England

I feel sure Radcliffe would have broken the 30 minute barrier if she had not had to run round the other athletes when she was lapping them.
Patricia Murray, UK