Olympic Chances:  Despite her age and record at previous Olympic Games, Paula Radcliffe is still a strong contender for a gold medal in Beijing. A stress fracture in her left thigh had seriously jeopardised her chances of competing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, let alone challenging for gold. However Radcliffe has since declared her intention to race and assured fans that she will be fit to compete in the marathon. The women’s marathon does not begin until August 17, 2008 and Olympic rules state that Radcliffe is allowed until the eve of the race to make a decision on her fitness, giving her extra time if she needs it.

If she is fit to compete and can achieve a podium finish then it would be a remarkable turnaround for the marathon legend, but she still faces the daunting prospect of competing against in-form athletes like China’s Yingying Zhang and Kenyan Catherine Ndereba .    

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