London 2012 Olympics: Heartbreak steals Paula Radcliffe’s hope of medal

Radcliffe has won multiple European, Commonwealth and world titles, but has never won an Olympic medal in four attempts.

At the last two Olympic Games, when she was strongly fancied to win the marathon, her bids for glory ended in pain and tears.

Now, the 38-year-old world record holder admits that she has had to accept that she is not fit to run in London, and has withdrawn from Team GB after a foot problem flared up again.

She is being replaced by Scottish long distance runner Freya Murray, who narrowly missed being selected for the Olympics.

Once her position in Team GB is approved under the late athlete replacement policy, Murray will join Great Britain’s other participants, Claire Hallissey and Mara Yamauchi, in the race on Sunday, 5 August.

Announcing her decision to withdraw from the Olympics, Radcliffe said: “From the day when it was announced that London had won the bid, taking part and performing well in the London Olympic Games has been a major goal in my life.

“The goal of a fifth Olympics in my home country, what better? The chance to make amends to myself for bitter disappointments at the previous two Olympics.

“Through a lot of tough times it has kept me fighting, motivated and focused. That is why it hurts so much to finally admit to myself that it isn’t going to happen.”

She added: “For details on my foot … yes that joint is degenerative and badly damaged, The same foot that I was told in 1994 I would never run on again.

“I refused to believe it then and I don’t believe now that it can’t recover and be carefully managed to allow me to still do what I love to do.

“Unfortunately though, that isn’t going to happen in one week.”

She continued: “My sport is a beautiful sport, it gives so much fun and enjoyment. I believe it helps me to be a better person, and I have been very fortunate to experience some great success and have so many beautiful and happy memories.

“However, the downside is that it can break your heart and spirit many times over when your body is simply unable to match what your heart and brain want it to do.”

One of the most heartbreaking athletic episodes in recent times was the sight of Radcliffe retching and in tears in an Athens gutter after her Olympic challenge came to a premature end in 2004 six kilometres from the finishing line.

There were more tears four years ago in China, when she succumbed to excruciating cramp, stopping to massage her calf before recording a time of two hours 32 minutes and 38 seconds, little more than pedestrian as she trailed in in 23rd place.

Athletics team leader Charles van Commenee paid tribute to the runner calling her “one of the greatest female distance runners of all times”.

“This is obviously a disappointing day for Paula and our sport, but it was important to her that if she made the start line it would be in the best possible shape,” he said.

“It wasn’t meant to be, and she has taken the right decision to withdraw at this stage.

“I think it is important that we don’t look at Paula’s career in Olympic cycles,” he added.

“She is undoubtedly one of the greatest female distance runners of all times and still holds the marathon world record.”