LONDON, 16 August 2003 — Britain’s Paula Radcliffe announced yesterday that she was withdrawing from the world athletics championships in Paris later this month.
Radcliffe, who for the past year has taken the marathon world by storm and is the fastest woman ever over the distance, had only made herself available for selection for both the 5000m and 10,000m in Paris on Monday, but will now not compete in either event.
The 29-year-old, who suffered a shin injury in June and then struggled with bronchitis in July, hasn’t run competively since the London Marathon in April.
At the time of her selection Radcliffe had made it clear that although her training had progressed well, she would only compete if she felt that she could win in Paris.
“I am very, very disappointed because Paris was my main aim for the year,” said Radcliffe. “I have had my preparations interrupted this year which has left me short of time and training. I have come very close, but this week has shown me that I am not quite at the level that I hoped I would be. I have to be realistic and think of the bigger picture and I now have to move on and forward.”
Radcliffe will now return to her training base of Font Romeu in the French Pyrenees and reassess her plans for the rest of the year. “I probably could have coped with one or other of the problems, but both things left me with too much time to catch up,” she added.
UK Athletics Performance Director Max Jones said that the news was a blow for the team.
“This is a blow for the Great Britain team for Paris because at the start of the year, Paula was a clear favorite to win gold.
However, I am fully behind her decision to withdraw because I would not want her to compete if she is not 100 percent.
“Paula is still the number one female long distance runner in the world and now has goals to aim for this winter and in Athens next year.
