View source for Paula Radcliffe

{{Short description|British long-distance runner (born 1973)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
|name           = Paula Radcliffe <br /> <small>[[Order of the British Empire|MBE]]</small>
|image          = Paula Radcliffe NYC Marathon 2008 cropped.jpg
|image_size     = 240px
|caption        = Radcliffe at the 2008 [[New York City Marathon]]
|country        = {{GBR2}}<br/>{{ENG}}
|alias          = 
|club           = Bedford & County Athletic Club<br>Nike, Beaverton<ref name=sr/>
|birth_date     = {{birth date and age|1973|12|17|df=yes}}
|birth_place    = [[Davenham]], [[Cheshire]], England
|height         = 5 ft 8 in<ref name=sr/>
|weight         = 119 lb<ref name=sr/>
|turnedpro      = 
|retired        = April 2015
|spouse         = [[Gary Lough]]
|children       = 2
|pb             = {{unbulleted list
|'''[[3000 m]]:''' 8:22.20 '''[[British records in athletics|NR]]''' ([[Monaco]] 2002)
|'''[[5000 m]]:''' 14:29.11 ([[Bydgoszcz]] 2004)
|'''[[10,000 m]]:''' 30:01.09 ([[Munich]] 2002)
|'''[[Half marathon]]:''' 65:40{{AthAbbr|a|Aided}} '''[[British records in athletics|NR]]''' ([[South Shields]] 2003)
|'''[[Marathon]]:''' 2:15:25 '''[[British records in athletics|NR]]''' ([[London]] 2003)
}}
|olympics       = '''1996''' 5000 m, 5th <br/> '''2000''' 10,000 m, 4th <br/> '''2004''' Marathon, DNF <br/> 10,000 m, DNF <br/> '''2008''' Marathon, 23rd
|worlds         = '''1993''' 3000 m, 7th <br> '''1995''' 5000 m, 5th <br> '''1997''' 5000 m, 4th <br> '''1999''' 10,000 m, {{Silver medal}} <br> '''2001''' 10,000 m, 4th <br> '''2005''' 10,000 m, 9th <br> Marathon, {{Gold medal}}
|highestranking = 
|coaching       =
|updated        = 
|medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport |Women's [[athletics (sport)|athletics]]}}
{{Medal|Country | {{GBR2}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2005 World Championships in Athletics|2005 Helsinki]]|[[2005 World Championships in Athletics – Women's Marathon|Marathon]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1999 World Championships in Athletics|1999 Seville]]|10,000 m}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2002 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|2002 Dublin]]|Long race}}
{{MedalGold|[[2001 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|2001 Ostend]]|Long race}}
{{MedalGold|[[1992 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|1992 Boston]]|Junior race}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2001 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|2001 Ostend]]|Short race}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1998 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|1998 Marrakech]]|Long race}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1997 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|1997 Turin]]|Long race}}
{{MedalBronze|[[1999 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|1999 Belfast]]|Long race}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[IAAF World Half Marathon Championships|World Half Marathon Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2003 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships|2003 Vilamoura]]|Individual}}
{{MedalGold|[[2001 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships|2001 Bristol]]|Individual}}
{{MedalGold|[[2000 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships|2000 Veracruz]]|Individual}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[European Championships in Athletics|European Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2002 European Championships in Athletics|2002 Munich]]|10,000 m}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[European Cross Country Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2003 European Cross Country Championships|2003 Edinburgh]]|Individual}}
{{MedalGold|[[2003 European Cross Country Championships|2003 Edinburgh]]|Team}}
{{MedalGold|[[1998 European Cross Country Championships|1998 Ferrara]]|Individual}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[European Cup (athletics)|European Cup]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[European Cup (athletics)|2004 Bydgoszcz]]|5000 m}}
{{MedalGold|[[European Cup (athletics)|1999 Paris]]|5000 m}}
{{MedalGold|[[European Cup (athletics)|1998&nbsp;Saint&nbsp;Petersburg]]|5000 m}}
{{MedalSilver|[[European Cup (athletics)|2001 Bremen]]|5000 m}}
{{MedalSilver|[[European Cup (athletics)|1998 Saint Petersburg]]|1500 m}}
{{MedalBronze|[[European Cup (athletics)|1997 Munich]]|3000 m}}
{{Medal|Country | {{ENG}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Commonwealth Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2002 Commonwealth Games|2002 Manchester]]|5000 m}}
}}

'''Paula Jane Radcliffe''' [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]] (born 17 December 1973) is a British former [[long-distance runner]]. She is a three-time winner of the [[London Marathon]] (2002, 2003, 2005), three-time [[New York Marathon]] champion (2004, 2007, 2008), the 2002 [[Chicago Marathon]] winner and the [[2005 World Championships in Athletics|2005 World Champion in the Marathon from  Helsinki]]. She was previously the fastest female marathoner of all time, and held the Women's World Marathon Record with a time of 2:15:25 for 16 years from 2003 to 2019 when it was broken by [[Brigid Kosgei]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/oct/13/brigid-kosgei-world-marathon-record-paula-radcliffe-chicago |title=Brigid Kosgei smashes Paula Radcliffe's world marathon record by 81 seconds |date=13 October 2019|work=The Guardian |first=Sean |last=Ingle }}</ref>

Radcliffe is a former world champion in the [[marathon]], [[half marathon]] and [[cross country running|cross country]]. She has also been European champion over [[10,000 metres]] and in cross country. On the [[track running|track]], Radcliffe won the 10,000 metres silver medal at the [[1999 World Championships in Athletics|1999 World Championships]]<ref>{{cite web |title=10,000 metres women 7th IAAF World Championships in Athletics |url=https://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-world-championships/7th-iaaf-world-championships-in-athletics-1822/results/women/10000-metres/final/result |website=IAAF |access-date=15 February 2019 |date=2019}}</ref> and was the [[Athletics at the 2002 Commonwealth Games|2002 Commonwealth champion]] at [[5000 metres]]. She represented [[Great Britain at the Olympics]] in four consecutive games (1996 to 2008), although she never won an Olympic medal.

Her running has earned her a number of accolades including the [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year]], [[Laureus Awards|Laureus World Comeback of the Year]], [[IAAF World Athlete of the Year]], [[AIMS World Athlete of the Year]] (three times) and a [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE). She has also been nominated for World Sportswoman of the year on several occasions. In 2010, she was inducted into the [[England Athletics Hall of Fame]]. She was inducted into the [[Loughborough University]] Hall of Fame in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |title=Loughborough University Hall of Fame |url=https://www.lboro.ac.uk/sport/loughborough-sport/hall-of-fame/ |website=Loughborough University |access-date=16 September 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.loughboroughecho.net/news/local-news/paula-radcliffes-loughborough-hall-fame-9295833 |title=Paula Radcliffe's Loughborough Hall of Fame honour  |last=Rush |first=Richard |date=22 May 2015 |website=The Loughborough Echo |access-date=16 September 2021 }}</ref>

She ended her competitive running career at the 2015 London Marathon.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/apr/26/come-on-paula-radcliffe-enjoys-her-farewell-competitive-race "'Come on Paula': Radcliffe's London Marathon is final competitive race"], ''The Guardian'', 26 April 2015</ref>

==Early life==
Radcliffe was born on 17 December 1973 in [[Davenham]] near [[Northwich]], [[Cheshire]]. Her family then moved to nearby [[Barnton, Cheshire|Barnton]] where she attended Little Leigh Primary School.<ref>[http://iccheshireonline.icnetwork.co.uk/0200sport/commonwealthgames/tm_headline=new-girl-on-the-block&method=full&objectid=12079373&siteid=50020-name_page.html]. icCheshireOnline, accessed 21 November 2007</ref> Despite suffering from [[asthma]] and [[anaemia]], she took up running at the age of seven, influenced by her father who was a keen amateur [[marathon]] runner and joined [[Frodsham]] Athletic Club. Her family later moved to [[Kingsley, Cheshire|Kingsley]].

When Radcliffe was aged 12, the family moved to [[Oakley, Bedfordshire]] and she became a member of Bedford & County Athletics Club. Her joining the club coincided with a talented and dedicated coach, Alex Stanton, building the women's and girls' sections into one of the strongest in the country, in spite of [[Bedford]]'s relatively small size.

Radcliffe's father became club vice-chairman and her mother, a fun-runner, managed the women's cross-country team.<ref name="historic Rad"/> Her first race at a national level came as a 12-year-old in 1986 when she placed 299th out of around 600 in the girls' race of the English Schools Cross Country Championships. She finished fourth in the same race one year later.

Radcliffe attended [[Sharnbrook Academy|Sharnbrook Upper School and Community College]]. She went on to study French, German and [[economics]] at [[Loughborough University]], gaining a first-class honours degree in Modern European Studies.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/sport/2003/04/radcliffe.shtml Paula's winning streak takes time...] BBC, accessed 08/11/07</ref>

==Running career==
Radcliffe's father was a keen marathon runner as a young man. He took up the hobby again in an attempt to lose weight after giving up smoking.<ref name="historic Rad">[http://sport.guardian.co.uk/olympics2004/athletics/story/0,14782,1287835,00.html Radcliffe ready to deliver her own historic message] Guardian, accessed 08/11/07</ref> Despite suffering from [[asthma]] Radcliffe took up running at the age of seven.<ref name="ASKman">{{cite web |date=3 November 2013 |title=Paula Radcliffe |url=http://uk.askmen.com/celebs/women/model/paula-radcliffe/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103181119/http://uk.askmen.com/celebs/women/model/paula-radcliffe/ |archive-date=3 November 2013 |access-date=14 August 2024 |work=AskMen}}</ref> In 1992 Radcliffe discovered that she suffers from [[anaemia]].<ref name="historic Rad"/><ref name="anaemia">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/athletics-thirsty-radcliffe-confirms-potential-1399131.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/athletics-thirsty-radcliffe-confirms-potential-1399131.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|first=Mike|last=Rowbottom|title=Thirsty Radcliffe confirms potential|date=10 January 1994|access-date=17 September 2011|newspaper=The Independent}}</ref> Radcliffe was diagnosed with exercise induced asthma at the age of 14 after blacking out whilst training.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-10865458|title=Paula Radcliffe: 'Asthma didn't stop me doing what I love'|work=BBC News|date=6 August 2010}}</ref> During her father's training jogs in the woods, Radcliffe and her brother would often run with him for a mile or two.<ref name="inspire">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2005/nov/06/athletics.features?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487|first=Martin|last=Love|title=This much I know|date=6 November 2005|work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> Radcliffe attended Frodsham Athletic Club until the age of nine,<ref name="historic Rad"/> Radcliffe became a member of [[Bedford & County Athletics Club]], when they moved to Oakley. There she was coached by Alex Stanton, who still fulfilled that role in her professional career.<ref name="BBC 2002"/> Stanton started to coach Radcliffe at the age of 12 after his wife Rosemary spotted her talent.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/hi/sa/athletics/features/newsid_2551000/2551567.stm|title=A Star is born|work=BBC Sport}}</ref> At the age of 10 Radcliffe, accompanied by her father, watched [[Ingrid Kristiansen]] run in the London Marathon, inspiring her to become an athlete.<ref name="inspire"/> Her first race at a national level came as a 12-year-old in 1986, when she placed 299th in the English Schools Cross Country Championships.<ref name="BBC 2002">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/special_events/sports_personality_2002/2546793.stm|date=8 December 2002|title=Radcliffe revels in success|work=BBC News}}</ref> In 1991 Radcliffe won the English Schools [[1500 metres|1500&nbsp;metres]] title.<ref name="Spikes">[https://web.archive.org/web/20080715081749/http://www.spikesmag.com/athletes/Heroes/paularadcliffe.aspx Biography]. spikesmag.com</ref>

===1992–1996===
{{quote box
| quote = "I'm not looking to make a living out of it. Obviously it's nice that there's a bit of money coming in but that's not my goal. I just want to do my best and still enjoy it. I want to keep on enjoying it, keep on improving, get as much out of it as I can and put as much back as I can."
| source = Radcliffe a week after finishing second in her first senior race.<ref name="historic Rad"/>
| width = 21%
| align = left
}} At the [[1992 IAAF World Cross Country Championships]], Radcliffe, took the Junior title, beating [[Wang Junxia]] and [[Gete Wami]] in [[Boston]], after recovering from a bad asthma attack in the weeks beforehand.<ref name="historic Rad"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CmFAAAAAIBAJ&pg=4497,3868161&dq=paula+radcliffe&hl=en|date=22 March 1992|work=The Robesonian|title=Kirui, Ngugi win cross country titles}}</ref><ref name="Rad Bio">{{cite web|url=http://www.paularadcliffe.com/biog.php |title=Biography |work=Paula Radcliffe |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007042344/http://www.paularadcliffe.com/biog.php |archive-date= 7 October 2013 }}</ref> Radcliffe then went to the [[1992 World Junior Championships in Athletics|Junior track World championships]] and finished fourth in the [[3000 metres|3,000&nbsp;metres]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wjah.co.uk/wojc/WJC/WJC1992.html#21020|title=World Junior Championships 1992|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305183724/http://www.wjah.co.uk/wojc/WJC/WJC1992.html#21020|archive-date=5 March 2014}}</ref> In her first senior race, in [[Great North Cross Country|Durham]] at the start of 1993, Radcliffe finished second to [[Olympic Champion]] [[Derartu Tulu]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/athletics-radcliffes-senior-surprise-1476487.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/athletics-radcliffes-senior-surprise-1476487.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|date=4 January 1993|first=Mike=|last=Rowbottom|title=Radcliffe's senior surprise|newspaper=The Independent|access-date=17 September 2011}}</ref> At the age of 19 Radcliffe finished in seventh place at the [[1993 World Championships in Athletics|1993 World Championships]].<ref name="Rad Bio"/> Radcliffe claimed back to back [[IAAF World Cross Challenge|World Cross Challenge]] wins at Durham and Mallusk to start the 1994 season.<ref name="anaemia"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/athletics-radcliffe-pulls-clear-in-the-rain-1398779.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/athletics-radcliffe-pulls-clear-in-the-rain-1398779.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|date=9 January 1994|access-date=17 September 2011|title=Radcliffe pulls clear in the rain|newspaper=The Independent|first=Mike|last=Rowbottom}}</ref> Radcliffe missed the [[1994 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]] with a foot injury.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/athletics-scorching-sigei-1431876.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/athletics-scorching-sigei-1431876.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Scorching Sigei|first=Mike|last=Rowbottom|date=27 March 1994|access-date=16 September 2011|newspaper=The Independent}}</ref> Radcliffe was initially misdiagnosed with the injury which forced her to miss all of 1994 and thought about quitting as the injury would not get better.<ref name="Rad Bio"/> At the [[Fanny Blankers-Koen Games|Fanny Blankers-Koen Games in Hengelo]] in 1995 Radcliffe outkicked Tulu to run the third fastest time by a British woman for the 5,000&nbsp;metres.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/african-smashes-10000m-record-1585249.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/african-smashes-10000m-record-1585249.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=African smashes 10,000m record|date=6 June 1995|first=Paul|last=Cook|access-date=16 September 2011|newspaper=The Independent}}</ref> At the [[1995 World Championships in Athletics|World championships]], Radcliffe qualified comfortably for the final of the 5,000&nbsp;metres,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/torrences-double-joy-turns-to-dust-1595728.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/torrences-double-joy-turns-to-dust-1595728.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|date=11 August 1995|first=Mike|last=Rowbottom|newspaper=The Independent|access-date=16 September 2011|title=Torrence's double joy turns to dust}}</ref> where she finished fifth.<ref name="Spikes"/><ref name="Rad Bio"/> At the [[London Grand Prix|1996 Securicor Games]] Radcliffe ran the 5,000&nbsp;metres finishing second.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/christie-denied-farewell-victory-1328558.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/christie-denied-farewell-victory-1328558.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|date=13 July 1996|first=Mike|last=Rowbottom|title=Christie denied farewell victory|newspaper=The Independent|access-date=16 September 2011}}</ref> The [[1996 Olympic Games|Olympic Games]] saw Radcliffe finish fifth in the 5,000 metres.<ref name="Spikes"/> Radcliffe rounded off 1996 by finishing third in a cross country race in [[Great North Cross Country|Durham]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/brown-brings-down-komen-1316397.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/brown-brings-down-komen-1316397.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|date=29 December 1996|access-date=16 September 2011|newspaper=The Independent|last=Rowbottom|first=Mike|title=Brown brings down Komen}}</ref>

===1997–2000===
1997 saw Radcliffe split Wami and Tulu, and win the silver medal at the [[1997 IAAF World Cross Country Championships]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/24/sports/tergat-leads-kenyans-with-dramatic-victory.html|title=Tergat leads Kenyans with dramatic victory|date=24 March 1997|newspaper=NY Times|access-date=17 September 2011}}</ref> Radcliffe became the first woman to defend the [[Fifth Avenue Mile]] title.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/28/sports/running-byers-provides-burst-of-fun-in-dash-from-the-past.html|first=Frank|last=Litsky|title=Byers Provides Burst of Fun in Dash From the Past|date=28 September 1997|access-date=17 September 2011|newspaper=NY Times}}</ref> In the 1997 World Championships, Radcliffe finished in 4th place over the 5,000&nbsp;metres.<ref name="Rad Bio"/> Wami again outsprinted Radcliffe in her final race of 1997, in the Brussels cross country event.<ref>[http://berlin.iaaf.org/aboutiaaf/news/newsid=15791.html] {{dead link|date=April 2016}}</ref> Radcliffe had dropped out of Durham's cross country race with flu at the start of 1998,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/printer,newsid=15857.htmx|title=News – iaaf.org|work=iaaf.org}}</ref> but bounced back to finish third in Dublin.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/printer,newsid=15885.htmx|title=News – iaaf.org|work=iaaf.org}}</ref> At the [[1998 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|1998 edition]] of the World Cross Country, Radcliffe again won the silver medal.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/golden-double-as-sonia-rewrites-the-record-books-452684.html|date=23 March 1998|title=Golden double as Sonia re-writes the record books|access-date=17 September 2011|newspaper=The Independent}}</ref> Radcliffe set a new world best for {{convert|5|mi|km}} on the road around Balmoral Castle.<ref>[http://berlin.iaaf.org/aboutiaaf/news/newsid=15973.html] {{dead link|date=April 2016}}</ref> At the [[1998 European Athletics Championships|European Cup]] Radcliffe, captaining the team, won the 5,000&nbsp;metres and finished second in the 1500&nbsp;metres.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/athletics-blacks-britain-clinch-victory-1168440.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/athletics-blacks-britain-clinch-victory-1168440.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Black's Britain clinch victory|date=29 June 1998|first=Mike|last=Rowbottom|newspaper=The Independent|access-date=17 September 2011}}</ref> Radcliffe set the pace in the 10,000&nbsp;metres at the European Championships, but finished fifth.<ref name="Rad Bio"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/printer,newsid=16082.htmx|title=News – iaaf.org|work=iaaf.org}}</ref> Radcliffe, who was suffering from a virus, took some time off,<ref name="Rad Bio"/> before returning to the cross country discipline, where she won her first senior title by taking the [[1998 European Cross Country Championships|European Long course race]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/athletics-radcliffe-triumphs-in-the-long-run-1191431.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/athletics-radcliffe-triumphs-in-the-long-run-1191431.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Radcliffe triumphs in the long run|date=14 December 1998|newspaper=The Independent|first=Mike|last=Rowbottom|access-date=17 September 2011}}</ref> 1998 finished with a fourth-place finish in Brussels.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/21/sports/plus-cross-country-kenyan-sprints-to-victory.html|date=21 December 1998|title=Kenyan Sprints To Victory|newspaper=NY Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/printer,newsid=16158.htmx|title=News – iaaf.org}}</ref>

Radcliffe started 1999 by finishing fourth in Durham.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/athletics-wamis-waltz-to-double-1044803.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/athletics-wamis-waltz-to-double-1044803.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Wami waltz to double|date=3 January 1999|last=Turnbull|first=Simon|access-date=16 September 2011|newspaper=The Independent}}</ref> At the World Cross Country championships, Radcliffe finished with the bronze medal.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/28/sports/plus-cross-country-world-championships-african-women-and-men-dominate.html|date=28 March 1999|title=WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS; African Women And Men Dominate|newspaper=NY Times|access-date=17 September 2011}}</ref> Radcliffe then ran the seventh fastest 10,000&nbsp;metres ever at the European 10,000&nbsp;metres challenge.<ref>[http://berlin.iaaf.org/aboutiaaf/news/newsid=16373.html] {{dead link|date=April 2016}}</ref> At the [[London Grand Prix]], Radcliffe took two seconds off her own [[British records in athletics|British record]] in the 5,000&nbsp;metres.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/414548.stm|date=7 August 1999|access-date=17 September 2011|title=Greene sets British GP alight|publisher=BBC|work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/printer,newsid=16671.htmx|title=News – iaaf.org|work=iaaf.org}}</ref> Radcliffe took the silver at the World Championships behind finishing behind Wami in the 10,000&nbsp;metres.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/27/sports/track-and-field-43.18-johnson-s-world-mark-a-decade-in-the-making.html?pagewanted=2&src=pm|date=27 August 1999|title=43.18 -- Johnson's World Mark A Decade in the Making|newspaper=NY Times|first=Christopher|last=Clarey|access-date=16 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/world_athletics/431241.stm|date=27 August 1999|title=Radcliffe wins silver in 10,000 metres|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|access-date=17 September 2011}}</ref> Radcliffe and Loruope found themselves at the front and tried to get rid of Wami but failed as the Ethiopian took the title.<ref>Davis Nick (August 1999) [https://web.archive.org/web/20120815135758/http://www2.iaaf.org/News/DailyReports/getnews0702.html?Event=WCH99&Code=1441 Johnson breaks World 400m Record Roundup of day 6 of the 7th IAAF World Championships in Athletics]. IAAF</ref> At the Berlin Golden league meeting, Radcliffe finished eighth in the 5,000&nbsp;metres.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/441269.stm|date=7 September 1999|title=Million split as record falls|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|access-date=17 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/athletics-el-guerrouj-puts-records-above-cash-1117423.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/athletics-el-guerrouj-puts-records-above-cash-1117423.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|first=Patrick|last=Vignal|newspaper=The Independent|date=9 September 1999|access-date=17 September 2011|title=El Guerrouj puts records above cash}}</ref> Radcliffe then ran the second fastest [[half marathon]] by a British woman, finishing third on her debut at the distance at the [[Great North Run]], despite getting into a tangle with a spectator.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/sunderland-afc/gary-rowell-column/altitude_gives_mutai_attitude_1_1097597|date=11 October 1999|title=ALTITUDE GIVES MUTAI ATTITUDE|access-date=16 September 2011|publisher=Sunderland Echo}}</ref>

Starting 2000, Radcliffe won the Stormont Cross Country race for a third time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/printer,newsid=15446.htmx|title=News - iaaf.org|work=iaaf.org}}</ref> Radcliffe then finished fourth in Durham.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/wami-renews-her-rule-over-radcliffe-727921.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/wami-renews-her-rule-over-radcliffe-727921.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Wami renews her rule over Radcliffe|date=23 January 2000|first=Simon|last=Turnbull|newspaper=The Independent|access-date=17 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/familiar-tale-for-radcliffe-727922.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/familiar-tale-for-radcliffe-727922.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Familiar tale for Radcliffe|date=24 January 2000|first=Mike|last=Rowbottom|access-date=17 September 2011|newspaper=The Independent}}</ref><ref>Knight, Tom (March 2000) [https://web.archive.org/web/20120819080549/http://www2.iaaf.org/News/Articles/getnews9b36.html?Event=WXC00&Code=1712 Wami once again in Great North Cross – Maranga and Ivuti head Challenge standings]. IAAF</ref> Radcliffe then sustained a knee injury.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/aug/09/athletics.sport?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487|title=How dare you come home without a medal|author=Richard Williams|work=The Guardian|date=9 August 2001 }}</ref> For the European Cup, Radcliffe joined a host of other British athletes by pulled out injured.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/833552.stm|date=14 July 2000|access-date=16 September 2011|title=GB hopes hit by injury|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC}}</ref> However, Radcliffe soon returned to the track for the first time since March after a virus, a knee operation and a calf muscle tear had kept her out; to race over 1,500&nbsp;metres in Barcelona.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/849254.stm|date=24 July 2000|access-date=16 September 2011|title=Radcliffe ready for action|publisher=BBC|work=BBC News}}</ref> In her first race since the World Cross Country, Radcliffe finished 11th.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/851672.stm|date=25 July 2000|access-date=16 September 2011|title=Spain's not a pain for Merry|publisher=BBC|work=BBC News}}</ref> At the London Grand Prix, Radcliffe finished second, one second outside of her British record, in only her second track race of the season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/867427.stm|title=Brave Radcliffe takes second|date=5 August 2000|access-date=16 September 2011|publisher=BBC|work=BBC News}}</ref> At the [[Weltklasse Zürich]] [[IAAF Golden League]] meeting Radcliffe competed in the 3,000&nbsp;metres and finished in fourth place.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics2000/athletics-track/876781.stm|date=11 August 2000|access-date=16 September 2011|title=Greene back on song|publisher=BBC|work=BBC News}}</ref> At the UK trials won the 5,000&nbsp;metres title.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics2000/athletics-track/879299.stm|date=13 August 2000|access-date=16 September 2011|publisher=BBC|work=BBC News|title=Radcliffe and Tullet soar ahead}}</ref> The [[British Grand Prix (athletics)|British Grand Prix]] saw Radcliffe race over 3000&nbsp;metres, where once again she finished third.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/899887.stm|date=28 August 2000|publisher=BBC|work=BBC News|access-date=16 September 2011|title=Richardson suffers defeat}}</ref> At the [[Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Olympic Games]] in Sydney, Radcliffe finished sixth in her 10,000&nbsp;metres heat to qualify for the final.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics2000/athletics-track/944275.stm|date=27 September 2000|access-date=16 September 2011|title=Radcliffe eases into final|publisher=BBC|work=BBC News}}</ref> In the final Radcliffe set a new British record, but crossed the line in fourth and was highly disappointed to miss out on a medal.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics2000/athletics-track/949769.stm|date=30 September 2000|access-date=16 September 2011|title=Brave Radcliffe denied medal|publisher=BBC|work=BBC News}}</ref> Radcliffe returned to action by winning the BUPA Ireland five-mile race.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/973563.stm|date=15 October 2000|publisher=BBC|work=BBC News|title=Radcliffe races to Irish victory|access-date=16 September 2011}}</ref> At the [[Great North Run]], Radcliffe ran a new European record for the half marathon, as she won the race in a time of 67 minutes and 7 seconds.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/984639.stm|date=22 October 2000|title=Radcliffe is queen of the North|access-date=16 September 2011|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC}}</ref> Radcliffe was then selected for the [[2000 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships]] in Mexico.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/999071.stm|date=30 October 2000|access-date=16 September 2011|publisher=BBC|work=BBC News|title=Radcliffe set for world challenge}}</ref> Radcliffe won her first World title, despite suffering a panic attack when her nose tape, designed to help her breathe, fell off halfway round.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/1020180.stm|date=12 November 2000|access-date=16 September 2011|title=Panicky Paula strikes gold|publisher=BBC|work=BBC News}}</ref> The good run of form came to an end, when she turned her attention to the Cross Country events and finished third in Brussels.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/1075176.stm|date=17 December 2000|access-date=16 September 2011|title=Kenyans win cross country season opener|publisher=BBC|work=BBC News}}</ref> Radcliffe confirmed that her last race of the year would be the [[Great North Cross Country]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://berlin.iaaf.org/aboutiaaf/news/newsid=14295.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127050347/https://www.reddit.com/r/cscareerquestions/comments/7tagu8/which_college_has_a_better_program_between/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 January 2018 |date=14 December 2000 |publisher=IAAF |work=PA Sport |title=Radcliffe to run in Durham |first=David |last=Martin |access-date=16 September 2011 }}</ref> There Radcliffe defeated Tulu by seventy-five seconds,<ref>[http://berlin.iaaf.org/aboutiaaf/news/newsid=14321.html] {{dead link|date=April 2016}}</ref> in eight inches of snow.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/1093980.stm|date=30 December 2000|access-date=16 September 2011|title=Radcliffe is Country queen|publisher=BBC|work=BBC News}}</ref>

She won back-to-back titles in the 2000 and 2001 [[IAAF World Half Marathon Championships]], winning a third title in 2003.

====Cross country champion====
On 24 March, Radcliffe won the [[Ostend]], Belgium-held [[World Cross Country Championships]] 2001 title in a time of 27:49.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/1240037.stm Radcliffe takes World Cross-Country title] BBC, 24 March 2001</ref>

Held in March in [[Dublin]], Radcliffe defended her title in the Women's Long Race when she won the [[2002 IAAF World Cross Country Championships]] title for a second year. She won in 26:46.<ref>[http://ftp.uksport.gov.uk/template.asp?id=903 Radcliffe retains X-country title in Dublin] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20070717213339/http://ftp.uksport.gov.uk/template.asp?id=903 |date=17 July 2007 }} UK Sport, Rob Burgess 25 March 2002</ref>

===Marathon world record===
In 2002, Radcliffe made the move up to the [[marathon (sport)|marathon]], a decision that immediately paid off with victory at her debut in that year's [[London Marathon]] on 14 April 2002 in a world's best time for a women's only race (2:18:55).<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/specials/london_marathon_2002/1929069.stm Debut win for Radcliffe] [[BBC]], accessed 06/11/07</ref> Her time was the second quickest in women's marathon history behind the world record of 2:18:47 set by [[Catherine Ndereba]], of [[Kenya]], in Chicago.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/specials/london_marathon_2002/1929069.stm Debut win for Radcliffe] BBC, 14 April 2002</ref>

Later that year, Radcliffe set a world record time of 2:17:18 in the [[Chicago Marathon]] on 13 October 2002,<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/2324527.stm Radcliffe sets marathon record] BBC, accessed 06/11/07</ref> breaking the previous record by a minute and a half.

She was appointed a [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) in the [[2002 Birthday Honours]] for services to athletics.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=56595 |date=15 June 2002 |page=20 |supp=1}}</ref> She said: "It means a great deal to me, it's a great honour and it really tops off an amazing year. To come here and receive this and to meet the Queen at the end of it just finishes it off perfectly."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/2405349.stm | title=Another medal for Radcliffe | publisher=BBC | access-date=6 November 2007}}</ref>

Later the same year, she became the [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year]], making her the first woman in over a decade to be honoured with the accolade. Paula thanked her husband Gary Lough, her coach Alex Stanton and her physio, Gerard Hartmann.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/12_december/08/paula_radcliffe.shtml Paula Radcliffe is BBC Sports Personality of 2002] BBC, accessed 06/11/07</ref>

===Further world records===
Radcliffe set her last women's marathon world record during the 2003 [[London Marathon]] in April, with a time of 2:15:25. The performance is one of the highest of score's values in terms of the IAAF World ranking points.

Radcliffe is the former world record holder for the women's road 10k in a time of 30 minutes and 21 seconds, which she set on 23 February 2003 in the [[World's Best 10K]] in [[San Juan, Puerto Rico]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/sport/newsid_2794000/2794749.stm  Paula Radcliffe breaks 10K world record] BBC Newsround, 24 February 2003</ref>

Radcliffe won the 2004 [[New York City Marathon]] in a time of 2:23:10, beating [[Kenya]]'s [[Susan Chepkemei]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/3990701.stm Radcliffe enjoys winning comeback] BBC, accessed 08/11/07</ref>

===2004 Athens Olympics===
Radcliffe did not compete in the London Marathon in 2004, but was the favourite to win a gold medal in the marathon at the [[2004 Olympic Games|Olympic Games in Athens]]. However, she suffered an injury to her leg just two weeks prior to the event and had to use a high dose of anti-inflammatory drugs. This had an adverse effect on her [[stomach]], hindering food absorption. She ended up withdrawing from the race after {{convert|36|km|0|abbr=on}}. Five days later she started in the 10,000 metres but, still suffering from the effects of the marathon, retired with eight laps remaining.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics_2004/athletics/3589138.stm Marathon Agony for Radcliffe] BBC, accessed 08/11/07</ref> Radcliffe said "You go through bad stages in a marathon, but never as bad as that", "I've never before not been able to finish and I'm desperately trying to find a reason for what happened", "I just feel numb – this is something I worked so hard for."<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics_2004/3590166.stm Radcliffe baffled by failure] BBC, accessed 08/11/07</ref>

Additionally, Radcliffe, like many other athletes, complained about the very high temperatures that prevailed in Athens at the time of the Olympic games.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2004/aug/23/athensolympics2004.athletics1#:~:text=Temperatures%20peaked%20at%20100F%2C%20making,trying%20to%20run%2026.2%20miles.]  The Guardian, accessed 15/9/24</ref><ref>[https://geographic.org/global_weather/weather_data_2.php?month=08&year=2004&id=16716099999&name=Athinai&country=Greece] Geographic.org, accessed 15/9/24</ref>

Regarded as Great Britain's best gold medal hope in athletics, her withdrawal made headlines in the UK, with editorial stances ranging from support to negativity, with some newspapers deriding Radcliffe for 'quitting', rather than going on to finish the race.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?sf=621&set_id=6&click_id=621&art_id=qw1093677488214B243|title=World-record holder fails to finish again|author=Independent Newspapers Online|work=Independent Online}}</ref> Television pictures showed Radcliffe in a clearly distressed state after dropping out of the marathon, being comforted by two friends from her early running days.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics_2004/athletics/3606762.stm Fans share Paula's pain] BBC, accessed 08/11/07</ref>

===2005: Marathon World Champion===
[[File:Paula Radcliffe London marathon 2005 crop.jpg|thumb|right|Paula Radcliffe leading the [[London Marathon]] in 2005, near to [[Limehouse]] in east London.]]
At the 2005 London Marathon, Radcliffe won with a time of 2:17:42, a world's best time for a women's only race by over a minute. The race is remembered for a notorious moment towards the end when Radcliffe, hindered by [[runner's diarrhea]] and in need for a toilet break, stopped and [[defecated]] on the side of the road in view of the crowd and TV cameras which broadcast the incident live.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Relief all round after Paula pauses on road to glory |author=<!--not stated--> |newspaper=The Scotsman |date=18 April 2005 |url= https://www.scotsman.com/news/uk-news/relief-all-round-after-paula-pauses-road-glory-2507798}}</ref> After the race, she apologised to viewers and explained what happened, "I was losing time because I was having stomach cramps and I thought 'I just need to go and I'll be fine'. ... I didn't really want to resort to that in front of hundreds of thousands of people.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/4454315.stm Radcliffe shrugs off toilet break] BBC, accessed 07/11/07</ref> Basically I needed to go. I started feeling it between 15 and {{convert|16|mi|km}} and probably carried on too long before stopping. I must have eaten too much beforehand". In November 2006, the incident was voted ''top running moment in history'' in the UK from a choice of ten "unforgettable moments".<ref>[http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Sky-News-Archive/Media-Gallery/20080641239319 "Picture Gallery – On The Run"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328163304/http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Sky-News-Archive/Media-Gallery/20080641239319 |date=28 March 2010 }} Sky News</ref>

On 14 August 2005 at the [[2005 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]] held in [[Helsinki]] she won Britain's only gold medal when she took the marathon title, dominating the race and setting a championship record time of 2:20:57. [[Catherine Ndereba]] of Kenya finished in second place, more than a minute behind. Radcliffe said: "It pretty much went according to plan. If somebody had been with me at the end I think I could have pushed it up a bit more." She and three other British runners were also awarded third place in the team competition.<ref>[http://www.sportinglife.com/athletics/worldathletics2005/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=others/05/08/14/manual_112330.html  Marathon Glory for Radcliffe] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605014547/http://www.sportinglife.com/athletics/worldathletics2005/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=others%2F05%2F08%2F14%2Fmanual_112330.html |date=5 June 2011 }} Sporting Life, accessed 08/11/07</ref>

===Family and autobiography===
[[File:Paula & Isla Radcliffe 2007 NYC.jpg|thumb|Paula Radcliffe with daughter Isla at the New York City Marathon, 2007]]
Radcliffe took a break through the 2006 season owing to injuries and in July announced that she was expecting her first child. Her comeback was further delayed in 2007 as a result of a stress fracture in her lower back.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/athletics/article1733835.ece Radcliffe may miss World Championships]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Times, accessed 08/11/07</ref>

Radcliffe chose not to defend her world marathon crown in 2007, in order to undertake further rehabilitation, but insisted she wanted to compete in the next two Olympics. She made her return to competitive running on 30 September 2007, taking part in the BUPA [[Great North Run]] in the UK on [[Tyneside]]. This was her first race in almost two years. Radcliffe finished second behind US runner [[Kara Goucher]].<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/content/image_galleries/gnr07_finish_elite_gallery.shtml?5 Great North Run 2007] BBC Tyne, accessed 08/11/07</ref>

Radcliffe made her marathon return at the [[New York City Marathon]] on 4 November 2007 which she won with an official time of 2:23:09.<ref>[http://www.thetimes.co.za/Sport/Article.aspx?id=605397 Radfcliffe wins New York City marathon] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090829151918/http://www.thetimes.co.za/Sport/Article.aspx?id=605397 |date=29 August 2009 }} The Times, accessed 06/11/07</ref>

Radcliffe released an autobiography in 2004, ''Paula: My Story So Far''.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/content/articles/2004/12/01/paula_radcliffe_book_comp.shtml  Paula Radcliffe – Her Story So Far] BBC, accessed 06/11/07</ref>

===2008–09: Beijing Olympics and fitness problems===

[[File:Paula Radcliffe.jpg|thumb|right|Paula Radcliffe at mile 14, New York City Marathon 2007]]

Radcliffe withdrew from the 2008 [[London Marathon]] due to a foot injury.<ref>[http://coachjoeenglish.wordpress.com/2008/03/06/races-paula-radcliffe-withdraws-from-2008-london-marathon/ Races: Paula Radcliffe withdraws from 2008 London Marathon « Running Advice and News]. Coachjoeenglish.wordpress.com. Retrieved on 26 April 2016.</ref> Shortly after the London Marathon, it was also revealed that Radcliffe was suffering from an injury to her hip, preventing her from running. Originally thought to be a muscular problem, scans later revealed it was a [[Bone fracture|stress fracture]] to her [[femur]]. Radcliffe won the 2008 Great South Run in 51 minutes 11 seconds, 11 seconds off of [[Sonia O'Sullivan]]'s course record. In May, Radcliffe broke her left leg.

Radcliffe managed to get to fitness level for the 2008 Summer Olympics, but cramped during the marathon to the point where she had to stop running and stretch. She resumed the race and finished in 23rd place overall.

Radcliffe won the 2008 [[New York City Marathon]], making it her third victory at the competition with a time of 2:23:56. Russian [[Lyudmila Petrova]] came in second, and American [[Kara Goucher]] took third.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/03/sports/othersports/03women.html?ref=othersports|title=Radcliffe Reasserts Her Supremacy|date=2 November 2008|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=4 November 2008 | first=Jeré | last=Longman}}</ref>

Following the New York Marathon, Radcliffe suffered more injury setbacks: she had to withdraw from the [[2009 London Marathon]] due to a fractured toe. In March that year, she had a [[bunion]] removed which doctors believed was the root cause of her other injuries at that time.<ref>Hart, Simon (10 April 2009). [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/5137288/Race-against-time-for-Paula-Radcliffe.html Race against time for Paula Radcliffe]. ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]''. Retrieved on 13 August 2009.</ref> She did not run competitively for almost 10 months, but made herself available for inclusion in the [[Great Britain at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics|2009 British team]] for the [[2009 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships in Athletics]]. She announced that the [[New York City Half Marathon]] would be a testing ground for her fitness before the competition.<ref>Chadband, Ian (12 August 2009). [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/6018727/World-Athletics-Paula-Radcliffe-to-warm-up-for-Berlin-with-New-York-Half-Marathon.html World Athletics: Paula Radcliffe to warm up for Berlin with New York Half-Marathon]. ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]''. Retrieved on 13 August 2009.</ref>

Radcliffe went on to win the New York City Half Marathon in 1:09:45, two seconds off the course record. However, after this she pulled out of the World Championships as she felt unfit, and she missed the [[2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships]] in [[Birmingham]] due to a bout of [[tonsillitis]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/8291300.stm Radcliffe to miss half marathon ]. [[BBC Sport]] (5 October 2009). Retrieved on 5 October 2009.</ref> She returned to action at the 2009 New York City Marathon but failed to notch her third consecutive victory, instead fading to fourth place with knee problems.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/8291300.stm |title=Radcliffe falls short in New York |date=1 November 2009 |work=[[BBC Sport]] |access-date=1 November 2009}}</ref>

===2011 onwards===
[[File:Paula Radcliffe London Marathon 2015.jpg|thumb|right|Radcliffe competing in the [[2015 London Marathon]], which would be the final race of her career]]
Following a 19-month layoff that included the birth of her second child, she returned to action at the Bupa London {{convert|10|km|0|abbr=on}}, where she finished 3rd, 55 seconds behind the winner, [[Jo Pavey]].  Radcliffe called the performance "a bit of a disaster", and indicated she was suffering from a tear in one of the discs of her back.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/may/30/paula-radcliffe-bupa-london-10000|title=Paula Radcliffe says comeback in Bupa London 10,000 was 'a disaster'|date=30 May 2011|work=The Guardian|access-date=30 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/9500523.stm|title=Paula Radcliffe return in London 10,000 was a 'disaster'|date=30 May 2011|work=BBC|access-date=31 May 2011}}</ref>

She set the [[2011 Berlin Marathon]] as her comeback venue to try for an Olympic qualifying time. She came third in the race with a time of 2:23:46 hours – getting the Olympic standard and the fourth fastest time by a European that year.<ref>[http://www.iaaf.org/statistics/toplists/inout=o/age=n/season=2011/sex=W/all=n/legal=A/disc=MAR/detail.html Marathon 2011]. IAAF. Retrieved on 21 April 2012.</ref> She was dissatisfied, however, saying: "I'm not particularly happy, either with my time or my place. I came here wanting to win".<ref>Butcher, Pat (25 September 2011). [http://www.iaaf.org/LRR11/news/newsid=62620.html Makau stuns with 2:03:38 Marathon World record in Berlin! – UPDATED]. IAAF. Retrieved on 21 April 2012.</ref> She used the 2012 [[Vienna City Marathon|Vienna Half Marathon]] to gauge her fitness and the race was set up as a battle between her and [[Haile Gebrselassie]], with Radcliffe receiving a head start of 7:52 minutes (the difference between the two athletes' personal bests). She did not perform well and was comfortably beaten by the Ethiopian, while she crossed the line after 72:03 minutes.<ref>Wenig, Jorg (15 April 2012). [http://www.iaaf.org/Mini/LRR12/News/NewsDetail.aspx?id=64573 Sugut runs 2:06:58 while Tola defends; Haile beats Paula in chase in Vienna]. IAAF. Retrieved on 21 April 2012.</ref>

Radcliffe pulled out of London 2012 Olympics because of a foot injury.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19035570|title= Paula Radcliffe out of Olympics marathon with injury
|access-date=29 July 2012|work= BBC Sport
|date= 29 July 2012
}}</ref>

In January 2015, Radcliffe announced that she had decided to end her marathon career on 26 April 2015 by competing in the [[2015 London Marathon]].<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/athletics/30814291 | title = Paula Radcliffe to end marathon career in London in April | publisher = BBC | access-date = 14 January 2015| work = BBC Sport | date = 14 January 2015 }}</ref> She finished in 2:36:55.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/av/athletics/32472514|access-date=24 June 2019|title=London Marathon 2015: Paula Radcliffe 'thankful' after final race|work=BBC Sport|date=26 April 2015}}</ref>

==Other achievements and awards==
*Awarded the [[BBC London]] Sports Awards 2003 for 'Sporting Moment of the Year'.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/london/sport/galleries/sportsawards2003/12.shtml In Pictures: BBC London Sports Awards 2003] BBC, accessed 08/11/07</ref>
*Radcliffe has set numerous records, official and unofficial, on the track and the roads. As of November 2009, she holds the official world record for {{convert|10|km|0|abbr=on}} on roads.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iaaf.org/statistics/toplists/inout=o/age=n/season=0/sex=W/all=y/legal=A/disc=10RR/detail.html |publisher=IAAF |title=IAAF all-time top list for 10 kilometres}}</ref> She has twice won the [[IAAF World Half Marathon Championships|World Half-Marathon championships]], twice the [[IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross-Country championships]] (in 2001 and 2002), and in December 2003 became [https://web.archive.org/web/20071024100806/http://www.european-athletics.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=74&Itemid=119 European Cross-Country] champion for the second time, the only woman to have achieved this feat in the event's ten-year history.
* In 2004 Radcliffe joined with [[Jonathan Edwards (triple jumper)|Jonathan Edwards]] on an ''Olympic Special [[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?]]''. The pair raised £64,000 for charity, half of that sum going to the [[British Olympic Association]] and a quarter of the sum going to [[Asthma UK]].<ref>[http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/8554.php Paula Radcliffe an asthmatic herself raises money for Asthma UK in TV competition] medicalnewstoday.com</ref>
* Nominated for the Sports Personality Award in 2007.
* Won the [[Laureus World Sports Awards|Laureus World Comeback of the Year]] award in early 2008 for her performances in 2007.<ref>[http://www.laureus.com/awards/2008/winners 2008 Laureus World Sports Awards Winners | Laureus] laureus.com</ref>
* Radcliffe won the Londoner of the Year award at the 2016 London Press Club awards despite being from Bedford.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://londonpressclub.co.uk/coverage-of-the-london-press-club-awards/|title=Daily Mail and The Times win top spots at Press Club awards|date=6 April 2016|website=londonpressclub.co.uk|language=en-US|access-date=1 May 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507021810/http://londonpressclub.co.uk/coverage-of-the-london-press-club-awards/|archive-date=7 May 2016}}</ref>
* Radcliffe was made an Honorary Doctor of Technology ([[Doctor of Technology|Hon DTech]]) by her alma mater, [[Loughborough University]] in 2002. <ref>{{Cite web |title=University Honours archive {{!}} Graduation {{!}} Loughborough University |url=https://www.lboro.ac.uk/students/graduation/honorary-graduates/archive/ |access-date=31 July 2023 |website=www.lboro.ac.uk}}</ref>

==Anti-doping activity==
Radcliffe has frequently made high-profile condemnations of the [[Use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport|use of performance-enhancing drugs]] in athletics. Radcliffe and teammate [[Hayley Tullett]] caused controversy when, in the heats of the 5,000 metres at the 2001 World Athletics Championships in [[Edmonton]], they held up a sign protesting against the reinstatement of Russian athlete [[Olga Yegorova]] after Yegorova had tested positive for the banned substance [[Erythropoietin|EPO]]. The sign was made by Radcliffe's husband and read 'EPO Cheats Out'. It was eventually taken off them by the stadium officials, but not before it was streamed around the world.<ref name="2001 ED"/> After Radcliffe and Tullett's initial protest, teammates [[Kathy Butler]] and [[Hayley Yelling]] – who both missed out on a place in the final – protested alongside coaches [[Mark Rowland]] and [[Alan Storey]], wearing Radcliffe masks and holding up banners with mocking slogans including one which read 'Free Paula'.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/in_depth/2001/world_athletics/1485647.stm | work=BBC News | title=Yegorova booed to 5,000m 'glory' | date=11 August 2001}}</ref> Radcliffe vowed to continue her fight against drugs in sport after her high-profile actions in Edmonton.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/in_depth/2001/world_athletics/1488232.stm | work=BBC News | title=Radcliffe vows to continue campaign | date=13 August 2001}}</ref> Since the 1999 European Cup, Radcliffe wears a red ribbon when competing to show her support for blood testing as a method of catching drug cheats.<ref name="2001 ED">{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/in_depth/2001/world_athletics/1483621.stm | work=BBC News | title=Radcliffe makes placard protest | date=9 August 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/19/sports/track-and-field-once-again-suspicion-settles-into-the-blocks.html?pagewanted=3&src=pm | work=The New York Times | title=TRACK AND FIELD; Once Again, Suspicion Settles into the Blocks | date=19 August 1999}}</ref>

{{quote box
| quote = "We should be pleased. One of the biggest frauds has been caught. Her medals should also be taken away"
| source = Radcliffe on Marion Jones in 2007.<ref name="Jones"/>
| width = 21%
| align = right
}}

Radcliffe has advocated a system where first time offenders are banned for four years and any future offence for life. However, she felt that in cases like that of [[Christine Ohuruogu]], who missed three out-of-competition drugs tests, that she should be allowed to compete in the Olympics, as the BOA does not allow anyone who has served a doping ban to compete.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/5399726.stm | work=BBC News | title=Radcliffe keen for doping changes | date=2 October 2006}}</ref> However, when Ohuruogu admitted to not trying to get to the tests, Radcliffe expressed her disappointment and hoped that it was a lesson learned.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/7128340.stm | work=BBC News | title=Radcliffe concern over Ohuruogu | date=5 December 2007}}</ref> When [[Marion Jones]] admitted to steroid use, Radcliffe stated that it was good for the sport that Jones was caught and that they had to keep testing and that people being caught is a big deterrent to would-be cheats.<ref name="Jones">{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/7031132.stm | work=BBC News | title=IAAF chief blasts 'fraud' Jones | date=6 October 2007}}</ref>

==Doping allegations==
Reflecting upon the scepticism created by incidents of doping, she said "You have to accept the situation...it would be great if we could win the battle against doping and have testing that was 100 per-cent reliable, but I don't think that will happen in my competitive career." She has previously asked for the results of a [[blood test]] taken at the London Marathon to be made public, saying that she had "absolutely no objection to my test being released".<ref>Rowbottom, Mike (8 August 2002). [https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics-hard-work-not-drugs-the-secret-of-radcliffes-success-172526.html Athletics: Hard work not drugs the secret of Radcliffe's success]. ''[[The Independent]]''. Retrieved on 10 October 2011.</ref>

In 2015, in the wake of revelations of widespread doping in athletics,<ref name = "ST report suppressed">{{Cite news | last1 = Arbuthnott | first1 = George | last2 = Calvert | first2 = Jonathan | last3 = Collins | first3 = David  | date = 16 August 2015 | title = Athletics body blocks report on drug cheats | url = http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/article1594311.ece | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150915153745/http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/article1594311.ece | url-status = dead | archive-date = 15 September 2015 | newspaper = The Sunday Times | access-date = 9 September 2015 }}</ref> Radcliffe said that, unlike some other prominent British athletes, she would not be releasing her blood-test history, and discouraged other athletes from doing so.<ref>{{cite web | title = Paula Radcliffe says athletes should not release blood data | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/athletics/33990503 | website = BBC News | date = 19 August 2015 | access-date = 8 September 2015 }}</ref> She was later indirectly identified as a suspected doper by MP [[Jesse Norman]] during a parliamentary inquiry into blood doping.<ref name = "Graun parliament">{{cite web | last = Gibson | first = Owen | date = 8 September 2015 | title = Paula Radcliffe denies 'cheating in any form' after allusions in parliament | url = https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/sep/08/paula-radcliffe-denies-cheating-parliamentary-committee | website = theguardian.com | access-date = 9 September 2015 }}</ref><ref name = "Radcliffe fighting back">{{cite web | last = Ingle | first = Sean | date = 8 September 2015 | title = Paula Radcliffe comes out fighting after doping allegations finally emerge | url = https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/sep/08/paula-radcliffe-fighting-doping-allegations | website = theguardian.com | access-date = 9 September 2015 }}</ref> In response, Radcliffe issued a statement in which she "categorically denied" cheating in any form and said she has "nothing to hide".<ref name = "Radcliffe response">{{cite web | last = Radcliffe | first = Paula | date = 8 September 2015 | title = Paula Radcliffe reacts to doping implications: statement of denial in full | url = https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/sep/08/paula-radcliffe-statement-denial-culture-media-sport-committee | website = theguardian.com | access-date = 9 September 2015 }}</ref> Shortly afterwards, her three suspect test results were leaked, though Radcliffe still refused to release her complete blood-test history.<ref name = "Indie bloods leak">{{cite news | last = Majendie | first = Matt | date = 10 September 2015 | title = Paula Radcliffe blood data is leaked – but she won't release more | url = https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/paula-radcliffe-blood-data-is-leaked--but-she-wont-release-more-10495897.html | website = independent.co.uk | access-date = 21 September 2015 }}</ref> In late November 2015, the IAAF declared that the accusations were "based on the gross misinterpretation of incomplete data". The [[UK Anti-Doping|UK Anti Doping Agency]], having received Radcliffe's blood test history via the IAAF, stated that "UKAD has come to the same conclusion as the IAAF review that there is no case to answer".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/nov/27/paula-radcliffe--blood-samples-doping-allegations-iaaf|title=Paula Radcliffe cleared by IAAF over doping allegations|date=27 November 2015|work=The Guardian}}</ref> It is likely that the first suspicious off-score was caused by faulty equipment. The third suspicious off-score was the direct result of an altitude training trip in Kenya with Mo Farah and other British athletes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/16850262|title=Mo Farah and Paula Radcliffe tap into Kenya's running success|date=2 February 2012|work=The BBC}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Radcliffe was born to Peter and Pat Radcliffe<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/2385520/Radcliffe-on-standby-for-late-10000m-attempt.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | first=Tom | last=Knight | title=Radcliffe on standby for late 10,000m attempt | date=26 August 2004}}</ref> and is the grandniece of [[Swimming at the 1920 Summer Olympics|1920 Olympic]] silver medallist [[Charlotte Radcliffe]].<ref name=sr>{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ra/paula-radcliffe-1.html |title=Paula Radcliffe |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418025411/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ra/paula-radcliffe-1.html |archive-date=18 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/Team-GB/competitors/8662236/Paula-Radcliffe-Team-GB-London-2012-Olympics.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120613035453/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/Team-GB/competitors/8662236/Paula-Radcliffe-Team-GB-London-2012-Olympics.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=13 June 2012 | work=The Daily Telegraph | title=Paula Radcliffe – Team GB – London 2012 Olympics | date=26 August 2011}}</ref> Radcliffe met her husband [[Gary Lough]], a former Northern Irish 1,500 m runner, when he was her lodger at [[Loughborough University]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2007/may/06/athletics.features | location=London | work=The Guardian | first1=Nick | last1=Green | title=Mother superior | date=6 May 2007}}</ref> The pair married in 2001.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2002/apr/16/athletics.duncanmackay | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Duncan | last=MacKay | title=Radcliffe may need operation on knee | date=16 April 2002}}</ref> She gave birth to her first child, daughter Isla, in 2007.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kolata|first=Gina|date=3 November 2007|title=Training Through Pregnancy to Be Marathon's Fastest Mom|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/03/sports/othersports/03runner.html|access-date=21 June 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Her second child, a son, Raphael, was born in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Paula Radcliffe: 'Running is all part of the healing process'|url=https://www.independent.ie/life/health-wellbeing/paula-radcliffe-running-is-all-part-of-the-healing-process-35403510.html|access-date=21 June 2021|website=The Independent|date=31 January 2017 |language=en}}</ref> The family resides in [[Monte Carlo]].

==Major career achievements==

===Championships record===
{| {{AchievementTable|Event=yes|Result=yes|NotesOff=yes}}
|-
!colspan="6"|Representing {{GBR2}} and {{ENG}}
|-
|1991
|[[1991 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Antwerp]], Belgium
|15th
|Junior cross country (4.435&nbsp;km)
|[[1991 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Junior women's race|14:50]]
|-
|rowspan=2|1992
|[[1992 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Boston]], USA
| style="background:gold;"|1st
|Junior cross country (4.005&nbsp;km)
|[[1992 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Junior women's race|13:30]]
|-
|[[1992 World Junior Championships in Athletics|World Junior Championships]]
|[[Seoul]], South Korea
|4th
|3000 m
|[[1992 World Junior Championships in Athletics – Women's 3000 metres|8:51.78]]
|-
|rowspan=2|1993
|[[1993 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Amorebieta]], Spain
|18th
|Cross country (6.35&nbsp;km)
|[[1993 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Senior women's race|20:34]]
|-
|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Stuttgart]], Germany
|7th
|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 3000 metres|3000 m]]
|8:40.40 
|-
|rowspan=3|1995
|[[1995 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Durham, England|Durham]], England
|18th
|Cross country (6.47&nbsp;km)
|[[1995 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Senior women's race|21:14]]
|-
|[[1995 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Gothenburg]], Sweden
|5th
|[[1995 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 5000 metres|5000 m]]
| 14:57.02 
|-
|[[1995 IAAF Grand Prix Final|IAAF Grand Prix Final]]
|[[Monaco]]
|4th
|3000 m
|8:42.55
|-
|rowspan=3|1996
|[[1996 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Stellenbosch]], South Africa
|19th
|Cross country (6.3&nbsp;km)
|[[1996 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Senior women's race|21:13]]
|-
|[[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|[[Atlanta]], USA
|5th
|[[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Women's 5000 metres|5000 m]]
|15:13.11
|-
|[[1996 IAAF Grand Prix Final|IAAF Grand Prix Final]]
|[[Milan]], Italy
|4th
|5000 m
|14:56.36
|-
|rowspan=4|1997
|[[1997 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Turin]], Italy
| style="background:silver;"|2nd
|Cross country (6.6&nbsp;km)
|[[1997 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Senior women's race|20:55]]
|-
|[[1997 European Cup (athletics)|European Cup]]
|[[Munich]], Germany
| style="background:#c96;"|3rd
|3000 m
|8:52.79
|-
|[[1997 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Athens]], Greece
|4th
|[[1997 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 5000 metres|5000 m]]
|15:01.74
|-
|[[1997 IAAF Grand Prix Final|IAAF Grand Prix Final]]
|[[Fukuoka, Fukuoka|Fukuoka]], Japan
| style="background:#c96;"|3rd
|5000 m
|15:17.02
|-
|rowspan=3|1998
|[[1998 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Marrakech]], [[Morocco]]
| style="background:silver;"|2nd
|Cross country (8&nbsp;km)
|[[1998 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Senior women's race|25:42]]
|-
|[[1998 European Cup (athletics)|European Cup]]
|[[St. Petersburg]], Russia
| style="background:gold;"|1st
|5000 m
|15:06.87
|-
|[[1998 European Athletics Championships|European Championships]]
|[[Budapest]], Hungary
|5th
|[[1998 European Athletics Championships – Women's 10,000 metres|10,000 m]]
|31:36.51
|-
|rowspan=4|1999
|[[1999 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Belfast]], [[Northern Ireland]]
| style="background:#c96;"|3rd
|Cross country (8.012&nbsp;km)
|[[1999 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Senior women's race|28:12]]
|-
|[[1999 European Cup (athletics)|European Cup]]
|[[Paris]], France
| style="background:gold;"|1st
|5000 m
|14:48.79
|-
|[[1999 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Seville]], Spain
| style="background:silver;"|2nd
|[[1999 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 10,000 metres|10,000 m]]
|30:27.13
|-
|[[1999 IAAF Grand Prix Final|IAAF Grand Prix Final]]
|[[Munich]], Germany
|4th
|3000 m
|8:46.19
|-
|rowspan=3|2000
|rowspan=2|[[2000 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]]
|rowspan=2|[[Vilamoura]], Portugal
|4th
|Short Cross Country (4.18&nbsp;km)
|[[2000 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Women's short race|13:01]]
|-
|5th
|Long Cross Country (8.08&nbsp;km)
|[[2000 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Senior women's race|26:03]]
|-
|[[Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|[[Sydney]], Australia
|4th
|[[Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Women's 10,000 metres|10,000 m]]
|30:26.97
|-
|rowspan=4|2001
|rowspan=2|[[2001 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]]
|rowspan=2|[[Ostend]], Belgium
| style="background:silver;"|2nd
|Short Cross Country (4.1&nbsp;km)
|[[2001 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Women's short race|14:47]]
|-
| style="background:gold;"|1st
|Long Cross Country (7.7&nbsp;km)
|[[2001 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Senior women's race|27:49]]
|-
|[[2001 European Cup (athletics)|European Cup]]
|[[Bremen]], Germany
| style="background:silver;"|2nd
|5000 m
|14:49.84
|-
|[[2001 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Edmonton]], Canada
|4th
|[[2001 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 10,000 metres|10,000 m]]
|31:50.06
|-
|rowspan=3|2002
|[[2002 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Dublin]], [[Republic of Ireland]]
| style="background:gold;"|1st
|Long Cross Country (7.974&nbsp;km)
|[[2002 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Senior women's race|26:55]]
|-
|[[Commonwealth Games]]
|[[Manchester]], England
| style="background:gold;"|1st
|[[Athletics at the 2002 Commonwealth Games – Women's 5000 metres|5000 m]]
|14:31.42
|-
|[[2002 European Athletics Championships|European Championships]]
|[[Munich]], Germany
| style="background:gold;"|1st
|[[2002 European Athletics Championships – Women's 10,000 metres|10,000 m]]
|30:01.09
|-
|rowspan=3|2004
|[[2004 European Cup (athletics)|European Cup]]
|[[Bydgoszcz]], Poland
| style="background:gold;"|1st
|5000 m
|14:29.11
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|rowspan=2|[[Athens]], Greece
| —
|[[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's marathon|Marathon]]
|DNF
|-
| —
|[[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's 10,000 metres|10,000 m]]
|DNF
|-
|2005
|[[2005 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Helsinki]], Finland
| style="background:gold;"|1st
|[[2005 World Championships in Athletics – Women's marathon|Marathon]]
|2:20:57
|-
|2008
|[[Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|[[Beijing]], China
|23rd
|[[Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's marathon|Marathon]]
|2:32:38
|}

===Road races===
{| {{AchievementTable}}
|-
|2000
|[[2000 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships|World Half Marathon Championships]]
|[[Veracruz, Veracruz|Veracruz, Mexico]]
| style="background:gold;"| 1st
|Half Marathon
|-
|2001
|[[2001 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships|World Half Marathon Championships]]
|[[Bristol]], [[United Kingdom]]
| style="background:gold;"| 1st
|Half Marathon
|-
|rowspan=2|2002
|[[London Marathon]]
|[[London]], United Kingdom
| style="background:gold;"|1st
|Marathon
|-
|[[Chicago Marathon]]
|[[Chicago, United States]]
| style="background:gold;"|1st
|Marathon
|-
|rowspan=3|2003
|[[London Marathon]]
|[[London]], United Kingdom
| style="background:gold;"|1st
|Marathon
|-
|[[Great North Run]]
|[[Tyne and Wear]], [[United Kingdom]]
| style="background:gold;"|1st
|Half marathon
|-
|[[2003 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships|World Half Marathon Championships]]
|[[Vilamoura]], [[Portugal]]
| style="background:gold;"| 1st
|Half Marathon
|-
|2004
|[[New York City Marathon]]
|[[New York City]], [[United States]]
| style="background:gold;"|1st
|Marathon
|-
|2005
|[[London Marathon]]
|[[London]], United Kingdom
| style="background:gold;"|1st
|Marathon
|-
|rowspan=2|2007
|[[Great North Run]]
|[[Tyne and Wear]], [[United Kingdom]]
| style="background:silver;"|2nd
|Half marathon
|-
|[[New York City Marathon]]
|New York, United States
| style="background:gold;"|1st
|Marathon
|-
|2008
|[[New York City Marathon]]
|New York, United States
| style="background:gold;"|1st
|Marathon
|-
|rowspan=2|2009
|[[New York City Half Marathon]]
|New York, United States
| style="background:gold;"|1st
|Half marathon
|-
|[[New York City Marathon]]
|New York, United States
|4th
|Marathon
|-
|2011
|[[Berlin Marathon]]
|[[Berlin]], Germany
| style="background:#c96;"| 3rd
|Marathon
|}

==Personal bests==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Surface
! Event
! Time
! Date
! Place
! Extra
|-
| rowspan=11| Track
| [[400m|400 m]] || 58.9 || 1992 || ||
|-
| [[800m|800 m]] || 2:05.22 || 1995 || || 
|-
| 1,000 m || 2:47.17 || 1993 || ||
|-
| [[1500 metres|1500 m]] || 4:05.37 || 1 July 2001 || [[Glasgow]], Scotland ||
|-
| [[Mile run|1 Mile]] || 4:24.94 || 14 August 1996 || [[Zürich]], Switzerland ||
|-
| 2000 m || 5:37.01+ || 29 August 1993 || [[Sheffield]], England ||
|-
| [[3000 metres|3000 m]] || 8:22.20 || 19 July 2002 || [[Monaco]] || [[British records in athletics|British record]]
|-
| 2 Miles || 9:17.4 || 23 May 1999 || [[Loughborough]], England ||
|-
| 4000 m || 11:35.21+ || || ||
|-
| [[5000 metres|5000 m]] || 14:29.11 || 20 June 2004 || [[Bydgoszcz]], Poland || [[British records in athletics|British record]]
|-
| [[10,000 metres|10 000 m]] || 30:01.09 || 6 August 2002 || [[Munich]], Germany || Ninth best ever
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#e6e6e6;"|
|-
|rowspan=13| Road
| [[5000 metres|5&nbsp;km]] || 14:57+ || 2 September 2001 || London, England ||
|-
| 4 Miles || 19:51+ || || ||
|-
| 5 Miles || 24:47+ || || ||
|-
| 8&nbsp;km || 24:05+ || || || World best<br>(non-IAAF distance)
|-
| [[10,000 metres|10&nbsp;km]] || 30:21 || 23 February 2003 || [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]], [[Puerto Rico]] || [[World records in athletics|World record]]
|-
| 15&nbsp;km || 46:41+ || 7 October 2001|| [[Bristol]], England || [[British records in athletics|British record]]<br>(unofficial/downhill)
|-
| 10 Miles || 50:01+ || 13 October 2002 || Chicago, USA || World best<br>(unratifiable/downhill)
|-
| 20&nbsp;km || 1:02.21+ || 21 September 2003 || [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]]-[[South Shields]],<br> England || World best<br>(unratifiable/downhill)
|-
| [[Half marathon]] || 1:05:40 || 21 September 2003 ||  [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]]-[[South Shields]],<br> England ||World best<br>(unratifiable/downhill)
|-
| 25&nbsp;km || 1:20.36+ || 13 April 2003 ||  London, England || 
|-
| 30&nbsp;km || 1:36:36+ || 13 April 2003 ||  London, England || World best<br>(unratifiable)
|-
| 20 Miles || 1:43:33+ || 13 April 2003 ||  London, England || World best<br>(unratifiable)
|-
| [[Marathon]] || 2:15:25 || 13 April 2003 ||  London, England || [[Marathon world record|World record]]
|}

==Honours==
===Commonwealth honours===
; Commonwealth honours

{| class="wikitable"
! Country
! Date
! Appointment
! Post-nominal letters
|-
| {{Flagu|United Kingdom}} || '''[[2002 Birthday Honours]]''' || [[Order of the British Empire|Member of the Order of the British Empire]] || MBE 
|-
|}

===Scholastic===
; University degrees

{| class="wikitable"
! Location
! Date
! School
! Degree
|-
| {{Flagu|England}} || '''1996''' || [[Loughborough University]] || [[British undergraduate degree classification|First-class honours]] [[Bachelor of Arts]] (BA) in Modern European Studies 
|}

; Honorary Degrees
{| class="wikitable"
! Location
! Date
! School
! Degree
! Gave Commencement Address
|-
| {{Flagu|England}} || '''25 October 2001''' || [[De Montfort University]] || Doctorate || Yes<ref>{{cite web |title=Photograph of Paula Radcliffe Receiving De Montfort University Honorary Doctorate |url=https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-olympic-athelete-paula-radcliffe-prepares-to-receive-an-honorary-doctorate-106736131.html |website=Alamy |access-date=16 September 2021 |language=en}}</ref>  
|-
| {{Flagu|England}} || '''16 December 2002''' || [[Loughborough University]] || [[Doctor of Technology]] (D.Tech.) || Yes<ref>{{cite web |title=Honorary Graduates and University Medallists |url=https://www.lboro.ac.uk/students/graduation/honorary-graduates/ |website=Loughborough University |access-date=16 September 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Paula Radcliffe's Honorary Degree Oration |url=https://www.lboro.ac.uk/service/publicity/degree_days/degree_2002/winter2002/paula_radcliffe.html |website=Loughborough University |access-date=16 September 2021 |language=en}}</ref>  
|-
|}

{{Incomplete list|date=September 2021}}

===Freedom of the City===
{{Incomplete list|date=September 2021}}

* {{flagicon|England}} '''28 June 2004''': [[Borough of Charnwood|Charnwood]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Freedom of the Borough |url=https://www.charnwood.gov.uk/pages/freedom_of_the_borough |website=Charnwood Borough Council |access-date=16 September 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{Cite book | last = Radcliffe | first = Paula | year = 2004 | title = Paula: My Story So Far | others = With David Walsh | location = London | publisher = Simon & Schuster | isbn = 978-0-743-25242-3 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/paula00paul_0 }}

==Further reading==
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4136018.stm Paula Radcliffe 'bionic' kit, (14 August 2005)]
*[https://www.news.co.uk/ Paula Radcliffe: One Track Mind, (16 April 2005)]
*[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2094-1337035,00.html Paula Radcliffe: Long Road Back, (31 October 2004)]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics_2004/athletics/3589138.stm Paula Radcliffe: Failing to finish at the 2004 Olympic Games, (22 August 2004)]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050213190213/http://www.runningtimes.com/issues/04june/radcliffe.htm Paula Radcliffe: Journey from Disappointing Fourth to Dominant First, (June 2004)]
*[http://www.letsrun.com/2003/escortingpaula.php Paula Radcliffe: Escorting Paula, (April 2003)]
*[http://sport.guardian.co.uk/athletics/story/0,10082,539367,00.html Paula Radcliffe: A Guardian interview about drug use in sport, (20 August 2001)]

==External links==
{{sisterlinks|d=Q233672|c=Category:Paula Radcliffe|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|s=no|wikt=no|species=no}}
* {{Official website|http://www.paularadcliffe.com}}
* {{World Athletics}}
* {{Power of 10 name|1341}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080715081749/http://www.spikesmag.com/athletes/Heroes/paularadcliffe.aspx SPIKES Hero profile on www.spikesmag.com]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080727092846/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1819129_1819134_1825753,00.html "Paula Radcliffe"], n°31 on ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'''s list of "100 Olympic Athletes To Watch"

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|rec}}
{{succession box|before={{flagicon|KEN}} [[Catherine Ndereba]]|title=[[Marathon world best progression|Women's Marathon World Record Holder]]|years=13 October 2002 – 13 October 2019|after={{flagicon|KEN}} [[Brigid Kosgei]]}}
{{s-ach}}
{{succession box|title=[[BBC Sports Personality of the Year]]|before=[[David Beckham]]|after=[[Jonny Wilkinson]]|years=2002}}
{{succession box|title=[[Track & Field Athlete of the Year|Women's Track & Field Athlete of the Year]]|before= [[Stacy Dragila]]|after=[[Hestrie Cloete]]|years=2002}}
{{succession box
| before= [[Serena Williams]]
| title= [[La Gazzetta dello Sport|''Gazzetta dello Sport''<br>Sportswoman of the Year]]
| years= 2002
| after= [[Valentina Vezzali]]
}}
{{s-sports}}
{{succession box|before= [[Olga Yegorova]]|title=[[5000 metres#Women's seasons best (outdoor track)|Women's 5,000 m Best Year Performance]]|years=2002|after=[[Berhane Adere]]}}
{{succession box|before= [[Catherine Ndereba]]|before2=[[Yoko Shibui]]|title=[[Marathon Year Rankings|Women's Fastest Marathon Race]] |years=2002–2003<br>2005|after=[[Yoko Shibui]]|after2=[[Deena Kastor]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{BBC Sports Personality of the Year winners}}
{{IAAF World Athlete of the Year (women)}}
{{Laureus World Sports Award for Comeback of the Year}}
{{Footer WBYP 5000m Women}}
{{Footer WBYP 10000m Women}}
{{Footer WBYP Marathon Women}}
{{Footer World Half Marathon Champions Women}}
{{Footer World Champions Marathon Women}}
{{Footer European Champions 10000 m Women}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions 5000m Women}}
{{Footer UK NC 5000 Metres Women}}
{{Footer IAAF World Cross Champions Women}}
{{Footer European Champions Cross Country Women}}
{{Footer Chicago Marathon Champions Women}}
{{Footer London Marathon Champions Women}}
{{Footer New York Marathon Champions Women}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Radcliffe, Paula}}
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