Join us for International Women’s Day to celebrate some of our heroes: today we're shouting about household name Paula Radcliffe, who's spreading the joy of running to women all over the world
At just 16, Paula competed in her first World Cross Country Championships, and in 1992 she took the junior title as her talent began to shine. After graduating from Loughborough Uni with a first-class degree in 1996, Paula devoted herself full-time to running.
She continued to excel in both track and cross-country, winning her first senior title at the European Cross Country Championships in 1998. The year 2000 was a turning point in Paula’s career, with a European record at the Great North Run for the half marathon of (67.07), plus a World Half Marathon Championship gold the same year.
Stepping up to marathon distance in 2002 lead to immediate success at the London Marathon, with Paula posting the second quickest time in history. Suddenly the hopes of the nation swung to a possible world record for her in this event, which she set at the 2003 London Marathon.
Paula won the London Marathon in 2002, 2003 and 2005, the Chicago Marathon in 2002, the New York Marathon in 2004 and gold in the same distance at the World Champs in 2005. The country got behind Paula and voted her the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year in 2002, the same year she was awarded an MBE.
Celebrate more #IWD heroes with us: Nicky Spinks
