Paula Radcliffe running at the 2002 London Marathon (© Getty Images)
Britain’s Paula Radcliffe, the IAF Athlete of the Year, last night added Britain’s premier sports award, the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year, to her growing list of distinguished honours. At the same time she took the opportunity to announce she will defend her title in next year's Flora London Marathon, in the course of a campaign which will culminate in her challenge for the World 10,000m title in Paris.
Radcliffe, 28, who established a world marathon best (2:17:18), in Chicago on 13 October made her debut at the distance in London last April, winning with a 2:18:56 clocking which was then the second fastest time ever.
"I just decided this morning that I will be running the London Marathon next year," Radcliffe told the BBC's sports personality of the year programme before later picking up the prestigious award.
"It set me up really well for the last year. My main goal for next year will be the London Marathon, then the 10,000 metres at the World Championships in Paris. It's still a major aim to win a (World) gold on the track."
Radcliffe was named BBC's Sports Personality of the Year polling 619,577 votes, with England football captain David Beckham, second with 113,539 votes and steeplechase jump jockey Tony McCoy, third with 87,972 votes.
BBC, Agencies, IAAF.
